A Path to Research in Space Physics

Abstract

AbstractSuccess in research depends on multiple factors, many outside the control of an individual. I was born during the Great Depression, began school during World War II, and was 12 years old before I lived in a house with running water, electricity, or a telephone. In the second or third grade, I decided to be a scientist, and all my activities after that contributed to this goal. In this paper, I summarize a few early events and focus on my activities in the Ph.D. Physics program at Berkeley, and my first few years after graduation. Being well‐prepared, hardworking, self‐sufficient, and blessed by fortunate circumstances is important. However, good fortune is insufficient if you are not proactive. Once success seems to be within grasp, it is important to consistently promote your ideas and communicate them in lectures and publications. Space Physics research exploded the year I started my research providing abundant opportunities for discoveries. There were few competitors, and significant resources were available. I was fortunate to be educated at one of the first space research centers and find a permanent position at another. Circumstances have changed in the 60 years since I began research. The opportunities for quick discoveries and rapid recognition have moved away from my field of magnetospheric physics. New instruments, new methods of analysis, large amounts of data, and advanced modeling tools are needed to make incremental advances.