About the Airglow & Irregularities Research Group

Welcome! This is the website for the research group headed by Prof. Jonathan Makela at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We focus on understanding the dynamics of the ionosphere using a combination of optical and radio techniques. This is accomplished through instrument development, experimental campaigns, and data analysis. Our group is part of the Remote Sensing & Space Science group in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. We are always looking for students interested in becoming involved in our research, especially those with a background in signal/image processing, plasma physics, or optical/radio instrument design.

Our research takes us all around the world. We are currently conducting experiments on two continents, with funding to set up sites at additional locations in the near future. See the map below for our past, current, and future locations.

Javascript is required to view this map.

In the News

April 30, 2012

Prof. Makela is featured in the Coordinated Science Laboratory's 60th anniversary video.

March 12, 2012

The University of Illinois' News Bureau has published an interview of Prof. Makela regarding recent solar activity. 

February 29, 2012

ECE Illinois has a story about Brian Harding, who has received a Carver Fellowship from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois.

September 6, 2011

ECE Illinois is running a story on Prof. Makela being awarded the 2011 IEEE Mac Van Valkenberg Early Career Teaching Award.  He will receive this award at the 2011 Frontiers in Education conference in October.

July 7, 2011

A press release from our French colleagues working with us on our tsunami work.