Recent News Summary

General News/UKSP Business

Nuggets

Meetings/Workshops/Summer Schools

Jobs/Studentships

General News/UKSP Business

  • UKSP at NAM 2024
    Dear colleagues, It was great to see many of you at NAM this year and online at the joint UKSP-MIST business lunch. It was an excellent (and mainly sunny) week in Hull, and our community planned and contributed to many parallel sessions (24 hours) ranging over all topics from dynamos to the solar wind.  We thank Dr Stephanie Yardley for her excellent solar plenary at NAM discussing the solar flare and CME events in May! UKSP Early Career Researcher (ECR) Poster Prize During NAM, we offered an ECR poster prize, and we are happy to congratulate our winner: Samantha Cook (Glasgow), “Observational Analysis of Line Formation Heights in the Flaring Chromosphere” The winner receives a monetary prize (thanks to the RAS) and an opportunity to write an article about their work in A&G magazine. UKSP Business Lunch and SSAP Science Board Roadmap Survey The slides from the UKSP business lunch are now available: https://www.uksolphys.org/uksp-business-meeting/ As discussed at the lunch, the Solar System Advisory Panel (SSAP) is still asking for comments that can be fed into the Science Board (PPAN) Roadmap request for information. https://www.uksolphys.org/general-news/solar-system-advisory-panel-consultation-on-new-stfc-science-board-ppan-roadmap/ Please send comments as soon as possible using the form: https://imperial.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6oitQhDxdsXI3QO NAM Experience If you have feedback about your experience at NAM this year, then please send it to the chair (natasha.jeffrey@northumbria.ac.uk) and/or deputy chair (m.korsos@sheffield.ac.uk). This will help with the organisation of future meetings. We hope you all have a restful summer! Kind regards, UKSP Council
  • Nominations for the first Steering Committee Election are now open
    Following our election of project custodians, nominations are now open for people to serve on the SunPy Project’s Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is responsible for the day-to-day running of the SunPy project including its financial management, the full list of responsibilities can be found in our governance document. Anyone is eligible to be nominated to serve on the committee, the committee will be elected by the Project Custodians. Nominations are open until the 5th of August and the election runs for two weeks from the 7th. If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/27LJNPPFfAZnrTym7
  • UKRI Policy Internships Scheme 2024/25 – Open for Applications
    Dear Colleagues, The UKRI Policy Internships Scheme for 2024/25 is now open and the closing date for applications is 4.00pm on 2 October 2024. The scheme provides the opportunity for doctoral students funded by the Research Councils of UKRI to undertake a three-month placement at one of a selected group of highly influential policy organisations. During their internship, the student undertakes training and experience on a policy topic agreed with their host partner that is relevant to both parties. The intention of the scheme is to embed students in an environment where they can engage with the process of converting research outputs into policy. These internships equip students with transferable skills and training relevant to the future career paths that the student may choose. Please note, that STFC students are only permitted to apply for an internship at either Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST) and Go-Science please. Full details of how to apply, including links to the online application form and guidance documents are available through the UKRI Policy Internships Scheme webpage. The Policy Internships Scheme is coordinated by NERC on behalf of the other Research Councils of UKRI. Any queries relating to the application process should be directed to the NERC Talent and Skills team (researchcareers@nerc.ukri.org) or the relevant host partner. To encourage student uptake, we would ask you to please circulate this opportunity to your students through your usual channels. Kind regards, NERC Talent and Skills Team researchcareers@nerc.ukri.org
  • In Memoriam: Dr David (Dave) Pascoe
    Dear Colleagues, It is with great sadness that we are letting our community know about the death of Dr David (Dave) Pascoe. Dave got his PhD at Warwick (UK) in 2008. He was then a postdoc at St Andrews (UK) from 2008-2013, at Warwick in 2013-2018 and at KU Leuven (Belgium) between 2018-2021. Most recently, he was again a Research Fellow in the St Andrews Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group, from 2021 until this January where he was working on numerical models of MHD wave heating. Dave was well known for his modelling work of solar coronal oscillations. He has contributed significantly to the modelling of the damping of propagating and standing kink waves. He was the driving force in developing the models for Gaussian damping through resonant absorption, and its potential applications for seismology. Moreover, he was an avid fan of quasi-periodic fast propagating waves and Bayesian techniques for seismology, producing a number of influential research papers well accepted by our research community. As well as his solar contributions, many colleagues will also remember Dave through his enthusiasm for football, including the NAM 5-aside football competition.
  • DiRAC Resource Allocation Committee Facility Time Opportunity: RAC17
    The DiRAC Resource Allocation Committee facility time opportunity (RAC17) is now open.  The UK theory and modelling communities in astronomy and cosmology, astrophysics, solar system physics, particle astrophysics, particle physics and nuclear physics are invited to apply for computational resources on the STFC DiRAC HPC Facility.   The deadline for submission of proposals is Thursday 12th September 2024 at 16:00 UK time.  The submission process is the same as last year (RAC16), via the new UKRI Funding Service (TFS) as follows:
      • Scientific proposals for Short and Thematic projects must be submitted using The new UKRI Funding Service (TFS), the replacement for Je-S. This will cover the information which in previous facility time opportunities (calls) would have been provided as part of the scientific application form, scientific case for support, and the project management and data management plans which were submitted as separate attachments via email to STFC.  Applicants are no longer required to submit documents via email to STFC; any documents sent to STFC via email will not be accepted.  Proposals must be submitted by the closing date of Thursday 12th September 2024 16:00 UK time.  The system will close at this time and it will not be possible to submit after this deadline.  Please see the UKRI Funding Finder for full details including the link to begin your application. 
      • A technical proposal form for Short and Thematic projects must be completed and sent directly to DiRAC via email: dirac-support@epcc.ed.ac.uk by the closing date of Thursday 12th September 2024 16:00 UK time. The technical form can be found on the UKRI Funding Finder.  Applicants may discuss their request with the DiRAC RSE Team in advance of submitting a technical case by emailing DiRAC support (dirac-support@epcc.ed.ac.uk) and adding the heading ‘RAC 17 technical enquiry’ into the subject of the email.
      • Applicants requesting Research Software Engineer (RSE) support must complete the RSE application form and send it directly to DiRAC via email: dirac-support@epcc.ed.ac.uk by the closing date of Thursday 12th September 2024 16:00 UK. Time.  The RSE application form and guidance can be found on the UKRI Funding Finder.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss RSE requests with the RSE team in advance of the closing date.
      • Seedcorn proposals can be submitted at any time; please see the DiRAC website. 
    Proposals for Short and Thematic projects will not be accepted unless both a scientific application has been submitted via the UKRI Funding Service and a technical application has been submitted to DiRAC.  Please refer to the UKRI Funding Finder for full instructions on how to submit proposals.  Applicants are encouraged to visit the UKRI website to see information regarding The new Funding Service including videos to show how to use the system.  Applicants should ensure they are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines that may be in place for the submission of their proposal.  These deadlines may be similar to those for standard Je-S grant applications and it is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm this, as they may be significantly earlier than the STFC submission deadline of Thursday 12th September 2024 16:00 UK time.  Successful awards will be scheduled to begin on 1st April 2025. STFC welcomes applications from Early Career Researchers.  No single application can request more than 80% of the availability of a DiRAC machine within a given year. Availability figures are provided in the guidance notes at annex 1, which can be found on the UKRI Funding Finder.  Please note the availability figures are provisional, and the resources which are allocated may be lower depending on confirmation of the levels of systems availability.  Applicants are strongly advised to read the RAC guidance notes and information available on the UKRI Funding Finder under the Additional info section.    Enquiries: Enquiries should be directed as follows:  Read more about it here

Nuggets

Meetings/Workshops/Summer Schools

  • FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WORKSHOP ON ‘PARTICLE ACCELERATION AND TRANSPORT: FROM THE SUN TO EXTRAGALACTIC SOURCES’
    The University of Calabria will host the second edition of the international workshop on ‘Particle acceleration and transport: from the Sun to extragalactic sources’ on 2025 February 3-7. You are cordially invited to participate. Scientific rationale: The workshop aims at presenting recent research on the longstanding problems of particle acceleration and transport in different astrophysical environments, such as the Sun, the heliosphere, galactic sources, and extragalactic sources. The purpose is to bring together experts in the fields of cosmic ray physics, plasma turbulence, acceleration processes, and particle transport, in order to stimulate cross-fertilization and to exchange scientific information among different areas. Indeed, the basic theoretical framework adopted to describe particle acceleration and transport is common to all those fields but the properties of the environments change noticeably. In addition, in-situ and remote observations often question the validity of the standard theories and prompt for further investigations to be interpreted. The availability of large datasets from new instrumentations and recent theoretical and numerical studies give the opportunity to advance the models and possibly to answer some of the basic unresolved issues. Exchange of ideas among the various fields would certainly speed up this process. We strongly encourage to present to the different communities recent, pioneering observations, theories, and models that try to explain and describe processes of particle acceleration and transport. We try to bring together scientists who would like to understand what is happening beyond their field of specialty. In order to promote an efficient exchange of ideas among different fields, each research area (solar, heliospheric, galactic, and extragalactic physics) will be introduced by a 40 minutes broad review talk. Invited talks will last 30 minutes. At the end of each day a time slot of about 45 minutes will be dedicated to open discussions on the daily sessions led by a couple of scientists. Contributed talks and poster presentations will be scheduled. Main Topics:
    • Observations of energetic particles in the solar, heliospheric, galactic and extragalactic environments
    • Properties of cosmic ray transport and acceleration from in-situ and remote observations
    • Solar flares, Crab flares, flaring phenomena in astrophysics
    • Shock acceleration: problems and advances
    • Particle acceleration in  magnetic reconnection, including the relativistic regimes
    • Particle acceleration in black holes, accretion flows and relativistic jets
    • Transport and acceleration in non-linear regimes
    • Magnetic turbulence in astrophysical plasmas: properties from large to small scales and effects on particle transport
    • Theoretical models and numerical simulations of particle transport and acceleration
    SOC: Silvia Perri (Chair, Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy) Elena Amato (co-Chair,INAF, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy) Gianfranco Brunetti (IRA-INAF, Bologna, Italy) Andrei Bykov (Ioffe Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia) Frederic Effenberger (Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany) Miho Janvier (European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC), The Netherlands) Jasmina Magdalenic Zhukov (KU Leuven, Belgium) Oreste Pezzi (ISTP-CNR, Italy) Reinout J. van Weeren (Leiden University, The Netherlands) Nicole Vilmer (Observatoire Paris-Site de Meudon, France) Gaetano Zimbardo (Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy) Registration and abstract submission will be open soon. Please check out the workshop web site at http://astroplasmas.unical.it/workshop2025/index.php Contact: workshopunical2025@fis.unical.it We look forward to welcoming you in Calabria!
  • [final call for Abstracts] DynaSun Network workshop: Waves, Reconnection and Particle Acceleration in Solar Flares (2nd – 6th September 2024, Northumbria University)
    [ *** final call for Abstracts: Deadline for abstract submission is 5th August 2024 *** ] DynaSun Network workshop: Waves, Reconnection and Particle Acceleration in Solar Flares Monday 2nd September – Friday 6th September 2024 Northumbria University (Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK) https://sites.google.com/view/dynasun2024/ The solar atmosphere is a dynamic system with phenomena including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves, plasma oscillations and time-dependent heating. In Solar Physics, we are now living in the era of data intensive observations and so, with the right techniques and understanding, we can start to address fundamental questions around the physical scenarios of energy releases and plasma heating. The European Commission has recognised this challenge (and scientific opportunity) and so has created the DynaSun Network: “Dynamics of the solar corona in the era of data intensive observations”. This international network will discuss key challenges in solar physics, including understanding of mechanisms for plasma heating, and energetics and physical scenarios of energy releases such as flares and coronal mass ejections. The first DynaSun Network workshop will be held on 2nd-6th September 2024 at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. This first workshop will focus on waves, oscillations, particle acceleration and reconnection associated with solar flares, and the workshop will consist of contributed and invited talks covering these topics. The workshop will also include tutorials on advanced techniques associated with data intensive observations. The presentations and tutorials will cover the latest research in these areas, including new and exciting observations from the STIX and EUI instruments on-board Solar Orbiter. We also welcome presentations around other relevant research topics. There will be a Welcome Reception, Conference Dinner and Excursion. Abstract submission and Registration are open at https://sites.google.com/view/dynasun2024/ Deadline for abstract submission is 5th August 2024.
  • DynaSun Network workshop: Waves, Reconnection and Particle Acceleration in Solar Flares
    DynaSun Network workshop: Waves, Reconnection and Particle Acceleration in Solar Flares Monday 2nd September – Friday 6th September 2024 Northumbria University (Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK) https://sites.google.com/view/dynasun2024/ Deadline for abstract submission is 5th August 2024. The solar atmosphere is a dynamic system with phenomena including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves, plasma oscillations and time-dependent heating. In Solar Physics, we are now living in the era of data intensive observations and so, with the right techniques and understanding, we can start to address fundamental questions around the physical scenarios of energy releases and plasma heating. The European Commission has recognised this challenge (and scientific opportunity) and so has created the DynaSun Network: “Dynamics of the solar corona in the era of data intensive observations”. This international network will discuss key challenges in solar physics, including understanding of mechanisms for plasma heating, and energetics and physical scenarios of energy releases such as flares and coronal mass ejections. The first DynaSun Network workshop will be held on 2nd-6th September 2024 at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. This first workshop will focus on waves, oscillations, particle acceleration and reconnection associated with solar flares, and the workshop will consist of contributed and invited talks covering these topics. The workshop will also include tutorials on advanced techniques associated with data intensive observations. The presentations and tutorials will cover the latest research in these areas, including new and exciting observations from the STIX and EUI instruments on-board Solar Orbiter. We also welcome presentations around other relevant research topics. There will be a Welcome Reception, Conference Dinner and Excursion. Abstract submission and Registration are open at https://sites.google.com/view/dynasun2024/ Deadline for abstract submission is 5th August 2024.
  • Call for abstracts AGU 2024- SH026 – Plasma dynamics of the lower solar atmosphere
    We would like to draw your attention – and welcome abstract submissions – to the SH026 session: ‘Plasma dynamics of the lower solar atmosphere’ in the upcoming , American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting taking place from 9 – 13 December 2024 in Washington, D.C., USA. https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/prelim.cgi/Session/225009 Further details regarding abstract submission, registration, accommodation and relevant deadlines can be found on the meeting website: https://www.agu.org/annual-meeting/present. Important! The abstract submission deadline is Wednesday, 31 July 2024. Conveners: Suzana Silva (The University of Sheffield) Samuel Skirvin (The University of Sheffield) Viktor Fedun (The University of Sheffield) Session Description The intricate dynamics of the lower solar atmosphere involves a complex interplay of plasma phenomena, such as magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave excitation and propagation, energy transport, and heating. These phenomena are intricately connected to magnetic fields, driven by photospheric plasma motion. Magnetic configurations are observed across various scales, from small-scale flux ropes to solar prominences. Advanced solar observation facilities such as The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, COronal Solar Magnetism Observatory, Parker Solar Probe, and Solar Orbiter, will provide an unprecedented view of the dynamical processes in the lower solar atmosphere and beyond. This progress can enable significant advancements in our MHD modelling capabilities, particularly in elucidating the complex interaction between magnetic fields and flows in the Sun. We welcome contributions that address multi-scale MHD phenomena in the lower atmosphere from observational, analytical and numerical analysis, including but not limited to, MHD waves, jets, vortices, energy transport, and plasma heating. With our Best Regards, Suzana Silva, Samuel Skirvin and Viktor Fedun https://www.agu.org/annual-meeting Call for abstracts AGU 2024- SH026 – Plasma dynamics of the lower solar atmosphere We would like to draw your attention – and welcome abstract submissions – to the SH026 session: ‘Plasma dynamics of the lower solar atmosphere’ in the upcoming , American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting taking place from 9 – 13 December 2024 in Washington, D.C., USA. https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/prelim.cgi/Session/225009
  • Registration Opening and Programme Release for the UK Space Weather and Space Environment (UKSWSE) Meeting II in Exeter, UK, 09-12 September 2024
    Dear Colleagues. It is with great pleasure that we can announce the opening of registrations and the launch of the Programme for the upcoming “UK Space Weather and Space Environment (UKSWSE) Meeting II: Celebrating 10-years of 24/7 space-weather operational forecasting in the UK”, which will take place at Sandy Park in Exeter, UK, 09-12 September 2024 – please see: https://iop.eventsair.com/ukswse2024/ for full details. There are discounted registration rates available for those that register early (by 28 July 2024), and the final registration deadline is 25 August 2024; Full, Concessionary, Virtual-only, and One-Day in-person options available – please see: https://iop.eventsair.com/ukswse2024/registration for full details. In addition, the Programme is now live and available for viewing which includes the oral and poster presentations – please see: https://iop.eventsair.com/ukswse2024/programme for full details, but please note that additional minor adjustments to the schedule may be made. As a reminder, all presenters and attendees are required to register and pay ahead of the final registration deadline please. We very much look forward to welcoming you to Exeter in September! Best wishes, Mario M. Bisi and Oliver D. Allanson, on behalf of the LOC and SOC for UKSWSE II.

Jobs/Studentships

  • Scientific Collaborator in Space Weather
    The Royal Observatory of Belgium is seeking a new scientific collaborator to enhance and support its space weather services. The successful candidate will play a key role in the development and provision of space weather services, with a focus on the ESA S2P projects (https://swe.ssa.esa.int). Responsibilities will include operational surveillance and forecasting of space weather, including on-call operations and shift work, as well as contributing to the advancement of these forecasting activities. The collaborator will be part of the ROB/SIDC (Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre, https://www.sidc.be), a leading space weather forecast center at the European level. For application details: Job Description (https://www.astro.oma.be/common/pdf/jobs/202406-SpaceWeatherCollaborator_EN.pdf) Application deadline: September 01, 2024
  • PhD position in solar physics (Institute for Solar Physics (KIS), Freiburg, Germany)
    There is a PhD position available at the Institute for Solar Physics (KIS) in Freiburg, Germany, within the department of Solar Magnetism. The PhD candidate will work together with Dr. Juan Manuel Borrero and Dr. Ivan Milic on the characterization of the photospheric and chromospheric magnetic field in and around active regions. This will be done by applying Stokes inversion codes to spectropolarimetric observations of active regions in the solar photosphere and chromosphere recorded with state-of-the-art instrumentation at facilities such as GREGOR, Sunrise and DKIST. https://www.leibniz-kis.de/de/news/artikel/phd-position-in-solar-physics-m-f-d/ The position is available immediately. Deadline for application is August 1st, 2024.
  • Fellowship Opportunities at St Andrews – Deadline 2 August 2024
    The Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group (SMTG), School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews encourages expressions of interest for the following fellowship opportunities to be hosted by the group: STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (STFC deadline 1 Oct 2024, 4pm UK time): https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/developing-people-and-skills/stfc/fellowships/ernest-rutherford-fellowships/ The School of Mathematics and Statistics in St Andrews can support one STFC ERF application in 2024. The successful candidate will be determined by an internal selection process (for details, see the SMTG Fellowships webpage).  Interested candidates should follow the instructions on the SMTG Fellowships webpage  and submit the required application materials to Prof. Thomas Neukirch (tn3@st-andrews.ac.uk) by 2 August 2024. For informal enquiries please also get in touch with Prof. Neukirch.  We would also encourage interested candidates to contact us about the following fellowships: Royal Society University Research Fellowship (Royal Society deadline 10 September 2024; call opens 11 July 2024): https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/university-research/ While there is no quota on Royal Society URF applications, applicants will still need to undergo an internal selection process. We also welcome enquiries regarding our group hosting any Marie Slodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (European Commission closing date 11 September 2024): https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships The group’s research focuses on applications of the theory of solar system plasmas, in particular using MHD, to the solar atmosphere and planetary magnetospheres. Applications from candidates who would add to the group’s expertise in these areas of plasma theory would be welcome.
  • Postdoctoral scientist in solar magnetism (Institute for Solar Physics (KIS), Freiburg, Germany)
    There is a postdoctoral position available at the Institute for Solar Physics (KIS) in Freiburg, Germany, within the department of Solar Magnetism. The scientist will work together with Dr. Juan Manuel Borrero and Dr. Ivan Milic on the measurements of electric currents in the solar chromosphere. https://www.leibniz-kis.de/de/news/artikel/postdoctoral-position/ The position is available immediately. Deadline for application is July 15th, 2024.
  • Research Fellow in Stellar Atmosphere Modelling
    Job Advertisement: Closing Date 27 June 2024 Research Fellow in Stellar Atmosphere Modelling — University of Warwick The University of Warwick seeks to appoint a motivated and driven Research Fellow within the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group to commence as soon as possible with years of 3 funding. Backgrounds in solar or stellar physics are preferred, especially in the area of stellar modelling; areas outside these are encouraged if they complement the project. Experience with exoplanet science is desirable. The successful candidate will work with Dr Heather M. Cegla on the “Pathway to the Confirmation and Characterisation of Habitable Alien Worlds,” funded by the UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship programme. They will utilise state-of-the-art 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations and perform spectral line synthesis to create realistic stellar surface simulations. The aim is to further our understanding of exoplanet hosts and improve the radial velocity detection and mass confirmation of low-mass, long period planets. The Astrophysics group at Warwick is one of the UK’s leading exoplanet research groups, and provides an excellent environment for a motivated Research Fellow to further their scientific career. The University of Warwick strongly values equity, diversity and inclusion, and the Physics Department will provide a healthy working environment, dedicated to outstanding scientific guidance, mentorship and personal development. We are committed to individuals with care giving duties and can offer flexible working hours. Applications for a part-time position will be considered and those from underrepresented backgrounds are particularly encouraged and welcome. For more details on candidate requirements and responsibilities, essential and desirable criteria, and the application procedure, please see https://aas.org/jobregister/ad/a5803036. Please direct all informal inquires to Dr Cegla (h.cegla [at] warwick.ac.uk).