Northern Lights
A big draw for me to Edmonton was my Canada Research Chair in space physics, which is part of Canada's investment in science. Compared to Britain, where I'm from, the investment in science is much better. I've now had the opportunity to develop a much bigger and more ambitious program at the University of Alberta than I would have had the chance to do in England. I was able to bring a team of 5 people with me from England to work in the same group - research associates who were part of the technical team as well as students who transferred to the University of Alberta (U of A).
The U of A is now pursuing a strategic expansion in space, forming the Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology (ISSET). The U of A and ISSET are looking to partner with the Canadian Space Agency and Alberta industry and businesses to create one of the foremost centres for space research in Canada.
I'm a big believer in the idea that science should be something that's understandable to the average person. I hope to impact Edmontonians with the research that's being done in space science in this city, as well as looking to an expansion or aerospace industry partnerships with universities in the province.
One of the things my team has been doing to make space science more accessible is in relation to the northern lights. We have a station monitoring magnetic fluctuations of space weather just outside Edmonton in a nice, quiet magnetic site. It provides us with a real-time data feed of what’s happening, essentially. So we've used that real-time data to create what we call an aurora borealis watch alert. It's a web-based system and it's a real-time monitor of magnetic disturbances in space weather.
So what the site will tell you is whether space weather is quiet or disturbed - the northern lights come out during periods of heavy disturbance. So the website, then, is an attempt to help amateur aurora watchers know when they should try and catch the northern lights. You can subscribe (it's free) and you can submit an email address. And you can have that email address forwarded to your mobile phone. We'll send you an email when we think space weather is really disturbed and we think you've got a chance to see the aurora.
Where Next?
Ian Mann
Dr. Ian Mann is a British space physicist at the University of Alberta. He brought his love of soccer with him and continues to play in an Edmonton city league. His favourite Canadian beer (which happens to be brewed in Edmonton) is Alley Kat Full Moon Pale Ale.
