Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas at Arlington received $1,027,756 in funding from the National Science Foundation's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) for a collaborative research project awarded April 15, 2026, with completion targeted for August 31, 2028. The project develops the Autonomous Remote Geospace Observation and Research Array (AURORA), a next-generation system of small, low-power, autonomous, multi-instrument ground-based observation arrays designed to address persistent gaps in existing geospace monitoring infrastructure across high-latitude and polar regions. AURORA leverages advanced technologies including solar panels, batteries, bidirectional satellite communications, low-power sensors (fluxgate and searchcoil magnetometers, radio receivers), and high-performance single-board computers to enable year-round observations in remote, logistically challenging locations.

The primary products and services delivered through this award include the design, development, and testing of autonomous observation systems capable of simultaneously studying interhemispheric asymmetries in geomagnetic and ionospheric variability, mesoscale solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in polar regions, and associated space weather phenomena. The project supports workforce development by engaging two early-career researchers, including a female early-career scientist, along with graduate and undergraduate students who participate in instrumentation design and testing activities. No subawards are planned under this award. The research infrastructure developed through this initiative is intended to facilitate multi-disciplinary polar science and enable international collaboration through co-located, multi-instrument capabilities.