Generation-to-Generation Communications in Space Physics

Space physics has been an active area of international research for more than 60 years. Spacecraft measurements require enormous resources: space research is a community effort. Generation after generation of researchers enter the field and their careers evolve. The senior generations of scientists retire and their decades of irreplaceable human wisdom become difficult to access.

One goal of this Research Topic is to document some of the lifetime wisdom of the senior and mid-career leaders in the field of space physics and to reveal it to the generations that follow: advice, mistakes, proud moments, mentors and important colleagues, concerns for the future. A second goal is to hear the voices of early career scientists and glimpse their visions for the future of space physics.

We invite submissions from researchers across the generations throughout the international space-physics community, under the three core article types :

• Perspective articles (<3000 words) : to present a viewpoint on a specific area of investigation, discussing current advances and future directions with a clear presentation of the authors’ perspective and outlook.
• Opinion pieces (<2000 words): to contribute viewpoints on the interpretation of recent findings in any research area, value of the methods used, as well as weaknesses and strengths of scientific hypotheses to encourage constructive discussion.
• Mini review (<3000 words) : to offer a succinct and clear summary of a topic, allowing readers to get up-to-date on new developments and/or emerging concepts. Discussing different schools of thought or controversies, current research gaps, and potential future developments in the field.

We welcome abstract submission ahead of article submission, or authors may contact the Guest Editors directly to discuss your ideas/suggestions.

Keywords: space, solar wind, magnetospheres, ionosphere, solar corona, heliosphere

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.