As a once active amateur (I obtained my license when I was 15 at highschool), I thought I'd had a reasonable handle on amateur activities but perhaps those in question never made it to my part of the world.

Moreover, from my observation, the quantities of research papers in the scientific press (in relative terms that is) on these topics have decreased. For example, the last IGY was in 1957/8 so it's been a very long time between drinks so to speak: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Geophysical_Ye....

Back then, this kind of research was public knowledge (I was just old enough to appreciate its significance and it was a huge deal). In comparison with the '57/8 IGY, more recent attempts have been second-rate also-rans.

We need the level of support and interest that the IGY received if we're to make real progress in these areas. Nowadays, like much scientific research that isn't mainstream (say, unlike the well-funded biological sciences), it doesn't attract a great deal of mainstream interest as it would have done in the days when the use of the spectrum below 30MHz was technologically, economically
and strategically important (MF and HF/SW broadcasting for example). When did you last hear of developments in RF and ionospheric research below 30MHz make it into the nightly TV news? Point made!

More to the point, my main concern here is with Amateur Radio in that it has been in significant decline for decades (at least it's definitely so where I am in VK). There are those who say the interest is as strong as ever but the numbers speak for themselves (and it's a big worry - for I won't have to remind you of the ever-present Use them or lose them arguments).

This loss of interest in AR has meant that fewer younger people are entering the hobby - most of those who now attend field days etc. are ancient and have little interest in pursuing the matters you've raised.

AR is now a far cry from when I first obtained my license decades ago, unfortunalely, it's only a shadow of its former self. The concomitant effect of this loss of numbers/new blood is that SIGs are small, few in number and now lack sufficient resources to be significantly effective forces in large projects (such as those under discussion here).

In short, Amateur Radio no longer carries the prestige and influence it once did with both government and the general public. No doubt you'd disagree.

Trouble is times have changed and moved on, such topics are now much more rigorous in that they require a greater indepth engineering/scientific understanding, and university students no longer have the time to play Amateur Radio or to belong to SIGs, etc., etc. as they once did. Of course there are exceptions but the low numbers again speak for themselves. Unfortunately, the more professional approach towards scientific research these days leaves little room for amateurs and hobbyists.

We've seen this repeatedly over the years and nothing reminds me more of this than the way the hobbyists and amateurs were cast aside in the early days of microprocessors. Now that the Big Boys have moved in and taken over we're now left with a secret proprietary world that amateurs, hobbyists and independent professionals have lost control thereof. Their act of excluding us means we're no longer informed about the technology and if we dare reverse-engieer the tech then we'll likely end up in the slammer.

Facts are that we're no longer wanted participants in computer tech - but only as subservient consumers who no longer complain.

Frankly, I hate this state this affairs but it's the way of the world and I - we - have little or no chance of changing it.