Moving Forward with Atmospheric Conductivity Research While Adapting to COVID-19 Disruptions

Previous study has shown that atmospheric conductivity variations are larger in amplitude than can be explained by current models. Several possible explanations for these variations have been proposed. However, recent conductivity research has been sparse, and no definitive explanations have been found. The latest iteration of the Undergraduate Student Instrument Project (USIP) at University of Houston seeks to add to previous work and explore possible contributing factors to these unexplained variations. To achieve this goal, the Conductivity team within USIP is designing and constructing an instrument that will be launched in Alaska. The data collected will be compared to measurements by other instruments launched during the same project. These include instruments studying microplastics, high energy particles, VLF waves, and gaseous compounds. In addition to contributing to the effort to understand the global electric circuit, the Conductivity team hopes to develop a low-cost kit that can be used by school groups to collect their own conductivity data. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, this student-led research project has overcome the challenges of distance, disrupted schedules, and uncertain funding by fostering a learning and working environment that can adapt to a variety of situations. In response to these challenges, USIP shifted towards the virtual resources that were already in use as a supplement to in-person work. The team uses Microsoft Teams and Zoom for virtual meetings, Slack for regular communication between members, and email to regularly coordinate with resources outside of the students in the research group. Diligent communication and adaptable budget, construction, and organization planning have been critical to maintaining the momentum of this project. Although the future remains uncertain, the Conductivity team continues to hope and prepare for the originally planned March 2021 launch.