Claudia Stolle (IAP, Kühlungsborn)

The main focus of the Priority Programme (SPP) 1788 “DynamicEarth” is to quantify terrestrial transport mechanisms and solar-terrestrial interactions in order to gain more insight into the continuously changing system Earth. We are focussing on the research topics geomagnetism, gravity, current systems of the ionosphere/magnetosphere, and thermosphere/ionosphere coupling, and aim to answer open research questions with an interdisciplinary approach. We successfully conduct research projects with high publication output, coordinate colloquia with international guests, and organise student summer/winter schools for highly motivated early career scientists. During the upcoming funding period of this Priority Programme we want to further optimize the scientific output of low-Earth orbiting satellite missions and accompanying auxiliary data sets and modelling results. In view of new research initiatives in Earth system science on the national and international level, it is now time to strengthen the national scientific community for aims that advance beyond the current SPP. Efficient coordination is required to tackle this task and to stimulate the cooperation and scientific exchange between different working groups. The SPP steering committee consists of the speaker and the topic speakers, and the project and science coordinator. The coordinator is responsible for overarching technical and administrative matters, contributes to the general scientific development within the priority programme and presents its activities to the international public. We also propose the continuation of annual colloquia and summer schools, and to further invest in measures for equal opportunity careers. Furthermore, we want to extend the support for young researchers in Germany, e.g., by providing start-up funds to PhD students who have submitted their thesis and to offer training in soft skills to facilitate successful scientific careers. Public relation and outreach will have a high priority in the next years. This will include further enhancement of the SPP website in both English and German and representation of the SPP at national and international conferences with updated material.