Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

This research proposal focusses on developing innovative new understanding of the processes which control harsh space weather. The research does not qualify as Indigenous research according to NSERC's definition. This science involves the study of the behaviour of hot ionised gases in the presence of magnetic fields, and which are responsible for storage and explosive release of energy in the magnetised solar system and which drive harsh space weather. The research area is a major focus for current and future national and international space agency missions, and this proposal seeks to ensure Canadian students and early career researchers are involved in discovery research at the forefront of this high-profile international endeavour. The research focusses on developing new understanding of the fundamental physical processes active in these solar and planetary plasma environments, the same processes being active in high energy plasma astrophysical systems, in magnetic confinement fusion plasma experiments, and whose affects are felt on Earth and by human explorers in the solar system through the impacts of space weather. At the core of this research is cutting edge cross-scale plasma physics addressing fundamental particle acceleration processes and system level energy transport and coupling. At the Earth, this is critical not only for understanding the dynamics of the most energetic space radiation, but also the effects of this radiation on the Earth's neutral atmosphere and potential impacts on climate. The research will focus on assessing the dynamics energetic particles in near-Earth space, and in the wider solar system, and their role in creating intense space radiation environments. In addition to data analysis and integrated theory and modelling, the research and training environment also embraces active and hands-on experimental and experiential training of undergraduate and graduate students of all backgrounds. For example, in the design, development, build, calibration, test and flight of space instrumentation such as miniaturised magnetometers for flight on sounding rockets and cube-satellites. We will also integrate student training into the development of the RADiation Impacts on Climate and Atmospheric Loss Satellite (RADICALS) mission. RADICALS is a $20 Million CAD satellite project is already fully funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, together with Government of Alberta and Canadian Space Agency partners. The RADICALS is also led by the proposer, and is due for launch in late 2026/early 2027. With support from this Discovery Grant, this will provide an excellent opportunity for HQP training through involvement in a major mission team. Overall, we will aim to train a diverse range of HQP who will complete research addressing key science questions required to both make more accurate space weather forecasts, and to enable steps towards the mitigation of some of the harshest effects arising from severe space weather.