Dr. William Longley’s works represent perhaps the most novel and impactful developments in low- and middle-latitude aeronomy and space physics in many years. Since completing his Ph.D. less than 3 years ago, William has applied a combination of analytical theory and numerical simulations to solving problems in ionospheric and magnetospheric physics. Most notably he used sophisticated kinetic plasma theory to demonstrate that photoelectron-driven upper hybrid plasma waves in the ionosphere explain many features of heretofore poorly understood ionospheric measurements. Specifically, his model explained the predominant features of daily ionospheric measurements called 150-kilometer radar echoes, observed since 1963 but explained only recently. His research also gave ionospheric radar scientists an understanding of the origin of enigmatic striations seen in plasma lines by the Arecibo observatory. As one of his nominators commented, his quantification of collisional incoherent radar scattering (ISR) theory perpendicular to the geomagnetic field is one the most startling findings in ISR theory in a generation. That all these novel contributions can be attributed to a single, early-career scientist is remarkable and explains William’s nomination and success in winning the Basu U.S. Early Career Award. William has demonstrated that he possesses tremendously deep physical insight into space plasma physics and couples this with a high degree of proficiency with computational methods. Last, he is also an effective communicator and a generous and congenial colleague, and these contribute to his outsized impact. —Meers Oppenheim, Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, Mass.

It is an honor to receive the Basu U.S. Early Career Award in recognition of my research in space physics. I am grateful to my nominators for this award, in particular Meers Oppenheim, who has supported my career and development as a scientist and has also been a wonderful friend. A common adage in physics is that quantum mechanics and particle physics took off when physicists stopped asking “how” and instead took the approach of “shut up and calculate.” This mentality permeates all branches of physics, including space and plasma physics, where we are interested in providing direct benefits to society. It is also an approach I have long been at odds with, as my research efforts have specifically focused on understanding the how. Understanding the how and providing detailed physical explanations is a hard task, and one full of uncertainty and self-doubt. That is what makes receiving the Basu Early Career Award so special to me—to be recognized for not only the research I have produced but also the method in which I have done so. I owe a large debt to the incoherent scatter radar community, who are primarily responsible for my nomination and career success. Phil Erickson, Koki Chau, Dave Hysell, Roger Varney, Marco Milla, Josh Semeter, Eliana Nossa, and many others have created a healthy, supportive, and friendly community for new researchers to join and thrive in. I am truly grateful to have found this field of study and the wonderful community around it. As a postdoc I have also entered the research area of radiation belt physics. My postdoc mentor, Anthony Chan, has been invaluable in teaching me this new area of physics and helping me grow into a better physicist with the tools to handle problems in all areas of space physics. Scot Elkington and Allison Jaynes have also provided a wealth of knowledge, experience, and guidance in this field. In physics and science, we are motivated every day to solve some problem or another that provides use to society. In the bigger picture, the biggest part of who we are, who any scientist is, is not the problems we work on, but the people we surround ourselves with. The friendships I’ve made throughout my career are the reason I enjoy doing physics, and I’m thankful to those I’ve named above, and to the many other friends I’ve made throughout my career. —William Longley, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas