Future of Heliophysics Community
Kris Klein: update from Heliophysics call to action; Need to contact the congress. We need to convey these messages:
– Robust funding for NASA SMD and NSF is needed to maintain US leadership in Space Science.
– Heliophysics Research results not only in science advances, but also operational significance for the national
– security, critical infrastructure, and supporting the administration’s ambitious goals of traveling to Mars.
– A balanced portfolio of Heliophysics Research, from PI-level grants through technology development and verification and a steady cadence of Explorers, through Flagship Missions, is critical to preserving US leadership in Space Science
Q: Why is NOAA not on the chart?
Q: Why is the specific number with percentages not on the cancellation chart?
Q: The planetary science society website has a very nice infographic on geographic impacts.
Q: NASA is planning to take action with the Presidential Budget Request (PBR). What can we do about that? How could we advocate for that?
2023 NASA economic impact state – map of impacts in individual regions;
Alex Young: science.gsfc.gov – go to 4 pages of 4 science divisions; There are clear messaging of why heliophysics is important from each of the four divisions of Goddard.
This is also social media battle: NOAA is doing a good job; we really need to think how we could reach everybody;
As a foreign student I am worried about my visa status. Can I advocate?
NASA actually makes money for the country – this is important for the congress.
Ben Lynch: Civil rights movement is very powerful. Congress effort is good, but if you want to walk on the streets, come talk to me. LA young population did more for fighting the budget than anyone else by trying to kick out immigration service from their neighborhoods; This is not about science, this is about civil rights;
On Monday there is a demonstration at 7am at NASA Headquarters to protest;
As a foreign student there are many other ways to resist.
Even a temporary cut would lead to drastic changes that are not going to come back.
There is a strong lobbying in the background from different institutions, so younger generation is not alone;
These cuts are not rational, so the idea is not to give rational answer but to talk to the voting group;
For students the fear is very real that we are not going to be here in a year;
We are here biased to defending heliophysics, but people voted for that; Why is finance more important than science? All science is affected; Finding solutions beyond NSF/NASA.
It is good to interact with social media; but it is important to also convey personal messages;
A lot of this is part of outreach problem; it could never had happened 50 years ago; we have to behave as politicians;
Talk to people keeping in mind that there are very different types of people; Remember where people are with their background;
Be careful about funds from private company: they could replace government spaces, but it is the government that should fund science;
Last week we have heard that congressmen are fighting this budget back: keep calling, keep talking, keep communication with congress members; Help push the message;
Chadi Salem: HelioArc – the new research foundation (since May 2025) for heliophysics and space weather; non-profit organization to get funding from private funds to support heliophysics research;
Future of SHINE
Background:
Nada:
First SHINE in 1996
10 chairs. 6 workshop coordinators.
Discussion focused.
No NSF rep. This year (Andres). New rep after Lisa Winters left.
Current funding for SHINE runs for two more years; but times are uncertain.
SHINE grant funds student participation, coordinators.
Without NSF grant, no student support and higher registration fees.
A proposal.
Key Question: Does SHINE want to have a standalone joint meeting with AAS/SPD in Morgan State next year?
The two communities are growing apart, this would help to draw them closer together. (2026)
Masha: Intro to SPD
The call started in 2024, as a place to join the two communities; plenaries in the morning, discussions in the afternoon.
Does the changes over the last few months impact this proposal.
Brian: comments on SPD: SPD only had plenary sessions (until late 2000’s) about 200 people.
Not like AGU. Recently started having parallel sessions (not as good). They have less of a SHINE vibe.
Ben Chandran: If we did the usual session, would there actually be overlap? Make a list of sessions and see what the overlap is. Does this just make for a big meeting where we will pass in the night?
???: One of the things that is good about the joint meeting, having the whole helio meeting at a HBC; involve the locals with the session.
Don Hassler: The SHINE meeting is something special, a unique style, Already a long meeting with discussion. If joined with SPD, the student focus will be lost. Like the idea of keeping SHINE separate.
Katie Leaker: Northwest RI: SHINE is special. The anti-AGU. One of the key parts is SPD has a set format in terms of the sessions, generally speaking organized by phenomena. How would you envision the partitioning of the sessions? Even further success?
Linker: A bad idea. Most solar physics. SHINE is broader than that. SEP, interplanetary not at SPD.More interdisciplinary. How would this actually fit?
???: How will this be different than TESS? Joint joint SPD. SPD is adding some student oriented foci.
Ben Chandran: If on the fence, a partial overlap? Concentrate the overlapping sessions on a few days.
Leon Ofman: Practicalities a headache, but a good idea.
Noe Lugaz: A good way to get Solar people to attend shine. If too successful, only fund SHINE halfway. A one time standalone, but don’t want this to be repeated; let’s not be too successful.
Ben Lynch: Not exactly the question is asking. (Do we abandon the SHINE philosophy) but does NSF survive, does SHINE survive, how does that overlap? This can be a way of sheltering resources. We have to be at the meeting the students are funded to go to? Lot of unknowns.
Is it a gamble to talk about this? Is this good timing?
Mike: I like the idea. Primarily a solar person (some of them are there!) SPD would be benefit from a SHINE infection. We have too many meetings! Consolidate! Save some money. Help redefine SPD as heliophysics.
Brian Welsh: Close to Goddard, Baltimore; the commuting pain is real.
Noe Lugaz: It is a gamble! How many of us can actually attend? A joint meeting might save the meeting as a risk reduction in the case of many fewer people attending?
Alex Young: More people could go if ‘local’. But people can’t even participate remotely.
If there is no registration, remote is allowed. If registration, NASA can’t attend virtually. SPD is kind of boring,
Katie: A few comments: One time thing, but worry about a slippery slope. More proposal ideas and postdocs from SHINE than SPD.
???: The concern is real! Right now is hard! SHINE is easier to have conversations. SPD is harder to having conversations.
Mel: First SPD two weeks ago. We are assuming we lose SHINE’ness, but maybe we can make SPD more SHINE-like. Spend less money to attend meetings; if we can make sure the conversations still happen.
The NSF and SPD steering committee are strongly advocating for it.
Mia???: SPD is much more report/research update. What would the poster session look like? What does the size of the meeting look like? Would people just attend? How long is the week/days?
Posters for the entire week.
Mel: The future is that SPD and SHINE need to merge. The community is suffering from the separation between AGS and Physics. We could follow in the footsteps of GEM/CEDAR merging, sharing logistics, have joint/separate sessions.
???: Richard Nixon was president when I started. SHINE is unique.Many ways this could fail. The devils are in the details. How can we vote on this unless we know the details. SPD are going to have to clean up their act.
???: Used to love SHINE because it was small, but less great now that it is bigger. SPD would make it be even bigger! If the point of having a bigger conference is to divide into groups, why even draw together.
???: Just talking specifically if this is inevitable, SPD should become SHINE, rather than losing SHINE.
Erika: This is a terrible idea. SPD is a very heavy meeting. SHINE is full of energy to continue discussions.
Mia: From the student perspective. Of the students only 20 went. If we only have limited funding, a joint meeting would be preferred.
Greg S: Tough for SPD, the cadence is odd, given the shifting format. SHINE has a stronger emphasis on posters, which is good for students to highlight their work!
???: A joint meeting would greatly benefit the students. Let them attend both.
Pros? Cons?