FDSS: Faculty Development in Space Weather Research: A Systems Perspective

乔治梅森大学（GMU）在计算科学学院（SCS）内启动了一个以空间天气为中心的新项目。为了实施和推进这一计划，预计将与SCS和物理与天文学系（DPA）联合设立三个新的空间气象终身教职职位。这一提议是为了支持其中一个职位。考虑到SCS已经强大的太阳物理系，NSF支持的职位的最高优先权将给予磁层科学家。这位新教师将与GMU的高级科学家合作，实施一项新的课程，重点是空间天气的端到端系统方法。学生将接受培训，掌握太阳、日光层、磁层和高层大气/电离层的工作知识，以及社会活动如何受到系统变化的影响。由教师和学生进行的研究将侧重于这种方法，这是设想导致有关太阳-地球系统如何工作的新知识，以及如何预测空间天气的后果。为了与空间气象系统和DPA的任务保持一致，将特别强调空间气象方案的跨学科性质及其在其他领域的应用。将有一个专门的重点是暴露在物理学和天文学的本科生空间天气，在建立一个博士轨道空间天气（作为现有的博士课程中的一个选项），并制定一个强大的空间天气教育和推广计划。毕业生将满足通过各种政府机构，私营企业和其他大学实施国家空间气象计划带来的对空间气象专家日益增长的需求。GMU与附近的联邦和工业实验室之间现有的伙伴关系将通过新的空间天气计划得到加强。

George Mason University (GMU) has initiated a new program within the School of Computational Sciences (SCS) centered on space weather. In order to implement and go forward with this program, three new tenure-track faculty positions in space weather are anticipated that will be joint with both the SCS and the Department of Physics and Astronomy (DPA). This proposal is for support for one of the positions. Given the already strong solar physics faculty at SCS, highest priority for the NSF-supported position will be given to a magnetospheric scientist. The new faculty member will work with the senior scientists at GMU to implement a novel curriculum focusing on an end-to-end systems approach to space weather. Students will be trained to have a working knowledge of the Sun, heliosphere, magnetosphere, and upper atmosphere/ionosphere, and how societal activities are affected by changes in the system. Research carried out by the faculty and students will focus on this approach, which is envisioned to lead to new knowledge about how the Sun-Earth system works and how to forecast consequences of space weather. In keeping with the missions of the SCS and the DPA, there will be a strong emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of the space weather program and its applications to other fields. There will be a dedicated focus on exposing undergraduate students in physics and astronomy to space weather, on establishing a PhD track in space weather (as an option within the existing PhD programs), and on developing a strong education and outreach program in space weather. Graduates will meet the growing need for specialists in space weather brought on through the implementation of the National Space Weather Plan by various Government agencies, private industry, and other universities. Existing partnerships between GMU and nearby Federal and industrial laboratories will be strengthened by the new space weather program.