Committee on Solar and Space Physics 

As recognized both by the agencies and the research community, there is also a continuing need to monitor the progress in implementation of the recommendations of the solar and space physics decadal survey--building on the survey that was tasked with surveying the field of space- and ground-based solar and space physics, recommending the highest priority scientific targets for the decade 2013-2022, and developing an integrated research strategy that will present a means to address the identified scientific targets. The need for careful monitoring is underscored by the fact that some of the survey's recommendations are associated with a set of triggers and decision rules. Other developments that trigger the need for reassessment include cost growth and/or changes of scope in the project baseline.

In fulfilling these responsibilities, the committee may formulate and oversee ad-hoc studies related to the implementation of the solar and space physics survey and on issues in solar and space physics more broadly, including.
 

• The scientific quality and the potential for discovery in the field;
• The scientific impact of a change in the technical design, cost estimate, schedule, or programmatic sequencing of one or more of the decadal survey recommended activities;
• The impact of scientific advances on the technical design, schedule, or programmatic sequencing of one or more decadal survey recommended activities;
• The impact of changing budget priorities, especially those that challenge the fundamental assumptions of the solar and space physics decadal survey, on the implementation of decadal survey priorities and on solar and space physics research more broadly; and
• The potential impact on a recommended course of action at a decision point described in the decadal survey.

The committee provides oversight in the areas of solar and heliospheric physics, solar-terrestrial physics, magnetospheric physics, cosmic radiation, “space weather,” and more generally on studies in space plasma physics that can be conducted from space and ground-based activities in support of space-based efforts. In this capacity, CSSP monitors implementation of strategies and the formulation of assessments for NASA, NSF, NOAA, and other government agencies.

The committee is pleased to acknowledge support from NASA for this activity.

Meeting Information

March 6-8, 2013, Washington, DC

March 3-5, 2010, Boulder. CO
December 3-4, 2009, Washington, DC
April 1-2, 2008, Washington, DC
December 3-4, 2008, Washington, DC

Current Membership

Dr. J. Todd Hoeksema,Co-Chair, Stanford University
Dr. Mary K. Hudson, Co-Chair, Dartmouth College
Dr. Timothy S. Bastian, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Dr. Amitava Bhattacharjee, Princeton University and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Dr. Stephen A. Fuselier, Southwest Research Institute
Dr. Sarah Gibson, National Center for Atmospheric Research, High Altitude Observatory
Dr. George M. Gloeckler, University of Maryland
Dr. David L. Hysell, Cornell University
Dr. Thomas Immel, University of California, Berkeley, Space Sciences Laboratory
Dr. Louis J. Lanzerotti, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Dr. Judith L. Lean, Naval Research Laboratory
Dr. Robyn Millan, Dartmouth College
Dr. Terrance G. Onsager, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dr. Aaron Ridley, University of Michigan
Dr. Nathan A. Schwadron, University of New Hampshire, Space Plasma Physics
Dr. Michelle F. Thomsen, Los Alamos National Laboratory
 
View Member Bios

Staff

Arthur Charo, Senior Program Officer
Abigail Sheffer, Associate Program Officer
Linda Walker, Senior Program Assistant