About this Research Topic

Background

Space physics has been an active area of international research for more than 60 years. Spacecraft measurements require enormous resources: space research is a community effort. Generation after generation of researchers enter the field and their careers evolve. The senior generations of scientists retire and their decades of irreplaceable human wisdom become difficult to access.

One goal of this Research Topic is to document some of the lifetime wisdom of the senior and mid-career leaders in the field of space physics and to reveal it to the generations that follow: advice, mistakes, proud moments, mentors and important colleagues, concerns for the future. A second goal is to hear the voices of early career scientists and glimpse their visions for the future of space physics.

We invite submissions from researchers across the generations throughout the international space-physics community, under the three core article types :

• Perspective articles (<3000 words) : to present a viewpoint on a specific area of investigation, discussing current advances and future directions with a clear presentation of the authors’ perspective and outlook.
• Opinion pieces (<2000 words): to contribute viewpoints on the interpretation of recent findings in any research area, value of the methods used, as well as weaknesses and strengths of scientific hypotheses to encourage constructive discussion.
• Mini review (<3000 words) : to offer a succinct and clear summary of a topic, allowing readers to get up-to-date on new developments and/or emerging concepts. Discussing different schools of thought or controversies, current research gaps, and potential future developments in the field.

We welcome abstract submission ahead of article submission, or authors may contact the Guest Editors directly to discuss your ideas/suggestions.

Keywords: space, solar wind, magnetospheres, ionosphere, solar corona, heliosphere

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

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  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

  In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

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  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

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  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

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  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

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  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

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  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.