HokieDARN Article

2026 NASA Heliophysics Summer School Announced (Deadline: Jan. 31)

Published on:

Thumbnail Image

UCAR Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (CPAESS) is now accepting applications for this unique summer school focusing on the physics of space weather events that start at the Sun and influence atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres throughout the solar system.

The focus of the 2026 Summer School will be on the connection between our understanding of fundamental physical processes throughout all domains of the heliosphere and the observational methods and subsequent data analysis to uncover those principles. Processes across the heliosphere - such as solar wind evolution and interactions with planetary bodies, solar EUV emissions, or atmospheric outflows from planets - are described by the evolutions of physical parameters - e.g. temperature, magnetic field, energetic particle, or UV spectra. Spacecraft and ground-based observations generate a tremendous amount of data that can be used to further our understanding of heliophysics. Emerging approaches and algorithms that extract information from data produced by physical sensors, discover patterns and causations, make predictions, and advance foundational understanding using a variety of tools including artificial intelligence and machine learning will be explored.

Website: https://heliophysics.ucar.edu/summer-school/recruitment-announcement

The Summer School will take place in Boulder, Colorado on UCAR's campus from July 21 - 29, 2026. Admission is competitive; up to 28 students are selected to attend this year.

Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2026 by 5:00 pm MT

Student Application Requirements

  • Currently an advanced graduate student enrolled in a PhD program, or an early career researcher, including postdoctoral researcher, within the first two years of obtaining a doctorate.

  • Studying space physics, other space and planetary science, astronomy, engineering, and other fields related to heliophysics.

  • Pursuing a research career in heliophysics, astrophysics, or a related field.