Long‐term solar variability and solar seismology: I

Solar physics research is an active and growing discipline. This is so not only because an understanding of solar processes is interesting in itself, but also because of the intimate connection between the Sun and the Earth and its inhabitants. It is for these reasons that studies of solar variability and solar seismology occupy prominent positions in current solar research. Solar seismology and solar variability studies, in particular, are paradigms of multi‐disciplinary efforts. They offer a wide range of educational and research experiences and opportunities to students and researchers in many fields. The fruits of this research are often valuable not only in the solar physics domain, but also in various scientific and technological fields. Solar variability research is many‐faceted, and a variety of techniques are employed to study it. Some of the more prominent efforts are surveyed, ranging from direct solar measurement to observations of planets and stars. Emphasis is given to the SCLERA program, which has detected changes on the Sun which may be relevant to the solar energy output and to the long‐term climate of the Earth. This emphasis is given in part to project an example where education is an important consideration. The future of solar variability research is outlined, and the SCLERA International Network is described. This network is based on the idea that collaboration among scientists is the foundation on which are built opportunities for scientific discoveries, educational development, and technological progress.