FDSS Track 2: Building Solar-Terrestrial Physics Capacity at Bates College

Bates College, Lewiston ME

Investigators

Abstract

The Faculty Development in geoSpace Science (FDSS) opportunity aims to integrate geospace science--to include solar and space physics and space weather research--into natural sciences, engineering or related departments at U.S. institutions of higher education and stimulate the development of undergraduate or graduate programs or curricula capable of training the next generation of leaders in geospace science. Bates College is a private, undergraduate-only, liberal arts college, and an Emerging Research Institution (ERI) in Maine, an EPSCoR state. It will create an FDSS tenure-track position focused on solar physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The institution will conduct a nationwide search for candidates. The Bates FDSS hire will build a research group in solar magnetism (laboratory, observational, or computational) and develop new introductory and advanced level undergraduate courses related to solar physics. They will also introduce solar physics topics (including auroras, regularly visible in Maine) into Bates’ outreach efforts, organize a lecture series with external speakers, and host a geospace symposium for students and researchers from three ERIs in the state. The FDSS candidate will have access to campus resources for pedagogical training and mentorship on grant writing and award administration to ensure their success to tenure and beyond. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.