Advances in Geosciences

In order to honor the ground-breaking contributions to space physics and fundamental research in science by Prof. W. Ian Axford, the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society lias dedicated its first named Distinguished Lecture Scrir.' to Prof. Axford. It is our great fortune that Ian has agreed to lend his w. me to grace rhe Society. Looking back. Ian’s distinguished scientific career xv.'s highlighted by his pioneering work on the magnetospheric convection system in connection with the viscous interaction between the solar wind and magnetic field reconnection. This early achievement was followed by the proposal of the wind-shear mechanism in the formation of the ionospheric sporadic E layer, the far-reaching theoretical work on the origin of the solar wind, and last but not least, the transport of the solar and galactic cosmic rays in the heliosphere. The origin and acceleration of the high-energy galactic cosmic rays are problems still very dear to Ian’s heart. Frankly speaking, any one of these achievements would have won a scientist ever-lasting fame. And lan has done them all. In addition, Ian’s foresight and leadership had brought him to Europe from sunny California. From that point on. lan had helped the European Space Agency to initiate a number of very interesting space and planetary projects on which basis Europe has grown to be a major player in this arena. His effort in injecting new life to the European Geophysical Society is a well-known story. Tine to his character, since returning to New Zealand. Ian has pushed forward the idea of establishment an Asia based organization for Earth Science with a view to share the limelight with American Geophysical Union (AGU) and European Geosciences Union (EGU). The outcome is the society called Asia Oceania Geosciences Society as we know it now. At the very beginning, this possibility existed only in the mind of one other person, namely, Professor Y. Kamide who is himself an outstanding space physicist of unsurpassed international reputation. As far as I can tell, their dialogue on AOGS started in 2002 when Ian visited the Nagoya University where Prof. Kamide served as the Director of the famous Solar-Terrestrial Laboratory. It is therefore most appropriate that the first Axford Lecture, which appears as the first paper in this volume, was given by Prof. Kamide on a topic chosen by Ian himself. It is our wish that, from now on, the Society can call upon the Axford Lecturers to serve as the role models for our young scientists. From now on, AOGS will share such legendary figures and pioneering spirit, and call them our own.