European Heliophysics Community: building a community for Solar, Solar System, magnetospheric, planetary, ionospheric plasma (from ground to space based) in Europe
We consider that this can be covered by the single disciplinary term of Heliophysics, a term now commonly used by NASA and ESA, which we broadly use to describe the science of understanding the Sun and its interaction with bodies in the solar system (including the Earth, planets and small bodies) and the solar system medium itself. Heliophysics is a discipline that has a large and active international community, with substantial expertise and mission heritage in the European Space Agency and Europe.
The broad nature of this science has meant that there is no single community list or organizational body associated with it in Europe. This hinders the progress of the community in terms of interactions to facilitate science, advertising career opportunities, as well as team building for mission and project proposals to various funding bodies.
To address this, the European Heliophysics Community (EHC) was formed with the aim to improve communication between European heliophysics scientists across this broad discipline. This has included several previous splinter meetings at EGU, the beginning of a series of "Heliophysics in Europe" workshops both in person and online, specific EGU sessions related to this topic (utilising the EHC term in the session title), and a recent publication outlining further steps (https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-855-2025).
This townhall meeting will build the foundation for working groups, grow and mature the EHC and will ensure that we capture as many people who may not even know they can identify as a Heliophysicist. Such community building will lead to better communication of activities, science and opportunities (in particular to support Early Career Researchers). This will also work to identify commonalities and synergies and demonstrate the diversity of this science and its unique and powerful cross disciplinary nature. ALL are welcome.
Session Agenda
1. Introduction: What is EHC ?
2. Forum Report and Community outreach
3. Working Groups and Membership call
4. 3rd Heliophysics in Europe meeting
5. Discussions, Summary, Outlook
The oral presentations are given in a hybrid format supported by a Zoom meeting featuring on-site and virtual presentations. The button to access the Zoom meeting appears just before the time block starts.