Professor Jim Wild FRAS SFHEA
Professor of Space PhysicsProfile
Jim Wild is the Professor of Space Physics in the Physics Department at Lancaster University and the President-Elect of the Royal Astronomical Society. His research focuses on the links between the Sun, the Earth and other planets. As well as exploring the physics of the natural space environment, he studies the impact of a range of solar-driven phenomena that are now understood to be a risk to human technologies. He leads the Space and Planetary Physics research group at Lancaster University, a team of around 20 academics, post-doctoral researchers and postgraduate students. Jim has held significant leadership roles in the wider research community, and is engaged with policy-makers and industry stakeholders. Beyond his research, he has a proven track-record of leadership in higher education, with considerable experience in university-level teaching, learning and recruitment in the STEM disciplines.
Research Interests
Jim's research investigates the physics behind the aurora borealis (sometimes known as the northern lights), the impact of space weather on human technology and the interaction between the Martian atmosphere and the interplanetary environment. As well as exploiting an international flotilla of satellites, Jim’s research has previously taken him to the high arctic to carry out experiments.
As a passionate science communicator, Jim has established himself as a popular speaker for public audiences and he also contributes to print and broadcast media.
Professional Role
Selected recent leadership roles:
- President-Elect of the Royal Astronomical Society (2025-26) and President from 2026-2028
- Chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Astronomy Large Awards Sifting Panel (2023)
- Chair of the STFC Consolidated Grant Implementation Panel (2020 - 2022)
- Core Team member of the Space Environment Impacts Expert Group (2017 to present)
- External Examiner for Physics undergratuate programmes at the University of Manchester (2022-25)
- ESA Academy invited lecturer, European Space Agency Space Weather Training Course (2023)
- Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the Faculty of Science & Technology at Lancaster University (2019-22)
- Chair of the STFC Astronomy Grants Panel (2017 - 2019)
PhD Supervision Interests
For current PhD opportunities, please visit the Space and Planetary Physics group webpages.
Selected Publications
Modeling the Impact of Geomagnetically Induced Currents on Electrified Railway Signaling Systems in the United Kingdom
Patterson, C.J., Wild, J.A., Boteler, D.H. 31/03/2023 In: Space Weather. 21, 3, 18 p.
Journal article
Deflection of O2+ ion flow by Magnetic Fields in the Martian Ionosphere
Li, S., Lyu, H., Cao, J., Cui, J., Zhou, C., Wild, J., Li, G., Li, Y. 23/12/2022 In: The Astrophysical Journal. 941, 2, 8 p.
Journal article
Assessing the Impact of Weak and Moderate Geomagnetic Storms on UK Power Station Transformers
Lewis, Z., Wild, J., Allcock, M., Walach, M. 1/04/2022 In: Space Weather. 20, 4, 12 p.
Journal article
Climatological Statistics of Extreme Geomagnetic Fluctuations with Periods from 1 s to 60 min
Rogers, N., Wild, J., Eastoe, E., Huebert, J. 11/11/2021 In: Space Weather. 19, 11
Journal article
Mars’ plasma system. Scientific potential of coordinated multipoint missions: “The next generation”
Sánchez-Cano, B., Lester, M., Andrews, D., Opgenoorth, H., Lillis, R., Leblanc, F., Fowler, C., Fang, X., Vaisberg, O., Mayyasi, M., Holmberg, M., Guo, J., Hamrin, M., Mazelle, C., Peter, K., Pätzold, M., Stergiopoulou, K., Goetz, C., Ermakov, V.N., Shuvalov, S., Wild, J., Blelly, P., Mendillo, M., Bertucci, C., Cartacci, M., Orosei, R., Chu, F., Kopf, A., Girazian, Z., Roman, M. 31/12/2022 In: Experimental Astronomy. 54, 2-3, p. 641-676. 36 p.
Journal article
Development of space weather reasonable worst-case scenarios for the UK National Risk Assessment
Hapgood, M., Angling, M., Attrill, G., Bisi, M., Cannon, P., Dyer, C., Eastwood, J., Elvidge, S., Gibbs, M., Harrison, R., Hord, C., Horne, R., Jackson, D., Jones, B., Machin, S., Mitchell, C., Preston, J., Rees, J., Rogers, N., Routledge, G., Ryden, K., Tanner, R., Thomson, A., Wild, J., Willis, M. 8/04/2021 In: Space Weather. 19, 4, 52 p.
Journal article
A Global Statistical Model of Extreme Geomagnetic Field Fluctuations
Rogers, N.C., Wild, J.A., Eastoe, E.F. 1/02/2019 In: Geophysical Research Abstracts. Copernicus GmbH (Copernicus Publications) on behalf of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) 1 p.
Abstract
All Publications
Modelling the impact of geomagnetically induced currents on UK railways
15/04/2024 → 14/04/2027
Research
Resolving uncertainty in the solar wind driving of the magnetosphere
01/04/2024 → 30/06/2027
Research
Ground Level Enhancement Event Monitor (Implementation Phase)
01/09/2022 → 15/03/2025
Research
EISCAT_3D: Fine-scale structuring, scintillastion, and electrodynamics (FINESSE)
11/04/2022 → 10/07/2027
Research
Ground Level Enhancement Event Monitor (GLEEM)
28/06/2021 → 27/06/2022
Research
IAA: Impacts of space weather on railway infrastructure
01/12/2018 → 28/02/2019
Research
Space and Planetary Research at Lancaster University
01/04/2018 → 30/09/2022
Research
Space Weather Impacts on Ground-based Systems
01/05/2017 → 30/04/2021
Research
Plasma environments in the solar system
01/04/2015 → 31/08/2018
Research
Iceland West SuperDARN Radar
01/04/2013 → 31/03/2016
Research
A High-Order Model of the Earth's External and Induced Magnetic Field
01/02/2013 → 03/08/2016
Research
A place in the sun: Taking solar system science to the public
01/04/2010 → 30/09/2012
Research
Investigating the influences of open crustal magnetic field regions on the Martian Ionosphere
01/01/2010 → 30/06/2013
Research
CASE: Electromagnetic coupling between the sun and earth
01/10/2007 → 30/09/2011
Research
Multipoint measurements of magnetospheric substorms
01/06/2007 → 31/01/2011
Research
AuroraWatch UK
01/04/2003 → …
Other
Modelling the impact of geomagnetically induced currents on UK railways
01/01/1900 → …
Research
What brings the Northern Lights to the Lake District?
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
President Elect
Charity
DSIT Space Horizon Scanning Talk: "Space Weather"
Invited talk
Space Weather Impact for Future Electricity System Resilience
Consultancy
Disaster! Space weather on the big screen
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Blue Dot Festival: "The northern lights: a rough guide"
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
The northern lights : a rough guide
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
BlueDot Festival: Disaster! Space weather on the big screen
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Project Introduction: Space Weather Impacts on the UK Railway Network
Oral presentation
Impacts of Space Weather on the UK Railways
Oral presentation
National Astronomy Meeting 2019
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
UK Government (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Science and Technology Facilities Council (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Science and Technology Facilities Council (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Current and Future Research with the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
ISSI Team: Field-Aligned Currents: Their Morphology, Evolution, Source Regions and Generators (Event)
Membership of committee
Royal Astronomical Society (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Annales Geophysicae (Journal)
Editorial activity
Institute of Physics Plasma Lecture: Weathering Solar Storm
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
The Big Bang Fair
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Forseeing Space Weather: Darwin College Lecture 2013
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
International Space Science Institute Workshop (Event)
Membership of committee
British Science
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations)
School Engagement
Science and Technology Facilities Council (External organisation)
Membership of committee
International Space Science Institute Workshop (Event)
Membership of committee
Cafe Scientifique: Solar flares and northern lights: the beauty and danger of the Sun
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2011
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Rutherford and radio
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Wrexham Science Festival
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Here is the Space Weather
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
The Big Bang Fair 2012
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Royal Astronomical Society Lecture
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Astrofest
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Cunard "Insights" Lecturer
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
British Astronomical Association Conference
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Expert Speaker: Northern Lights Pleasure Flights
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Royal Astronomical Society James Dungey Lectureship 2018
Prize (including medals and awards)
Space and Planetary Physics
Space and Planetary Physics
Space and Planetary Physics
Space and Planetary Physics
Space and Planetary Physics
- Space and Planetary Physics
- Space Weather