Jana Šafránková
The 2026 Hannes Alfvén Medal is awarded to Jana Šafránková for pioneering research in space plasma and dusty plasma physics, including establishing a unique laboratory facility for dust measurements and mentoring a new generation of scientific leaders.
Jana Šafránková and Zdeněk Němeček of Charles University jointly receive the EGU’s Hannes Alfvén Medal in recognition of their pioneering, five-decade-long contributions to space plasma physics and dusty plasmas. Their work has significantly advanced our understanding of the solar wind, magnetospheric boundaries, and plasma turbulence, while their legacy is equally defined by the many students they have mentored, who now hold prominent roles in international space research. Their early contributions began with the Soviet Interkosmos and Interball programs, where they developed state-of-the-art plasma instruments, particularly high time-resolution Faraday Cup arrays, and conducted groundbreaking dual-point measurements to characterise the dynamic structures of the magnetopause and foreshock. They were among the first to show that kinetic processes in the foreshock can produce transient density structures that penetrate deep into the magnetosphere. Their high-cadence plasma instruments flown on Interball and Spektr-R produced the first measurements of ion kinetic scales in the solar wind, transforming our understanding of plasma turbulence. Their work revealed that while spectral properties of density, velocity, and thermal speed align at magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) scales, they diverge at kinetic scales. This insight enabled deeper exploration of energy transfer processes, spectral breaks, and turbulence evolution in solar wind features, including interplanetary shocks.
In dusty plasma research, they developed a unique lab facility capable of measuring electrostatic charges on individual dust grains. Their experiments clarified how secondary electron, field, and photoemissions affect dust charging in space environments, with implications for lunar and Martian surface dust. Their impact extends globally through former students who now lead major NASA and ESA missions or hold key academic roles. Their collaborative spirit, openness to new ideas, and commitment to data sharing have strengthened international partnerships. Their work directly influenced the science goals of major missions like 'Cluster' and the 'Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)' mission, and their 2023 study on magnetosheath jets has sparked renewed focus in current magnetospheric research. Now both aged 76, Šafránková and Němeček remain active and prolific. Their combined scientific excellence, instrumental innovation, and dedication to mentoring make them exceptional candidates for the Hannes Alfvén Medal, symbolizing their lasting influence on space science and its community.