One way of outlining the subject of radio science is listing the topics associated with it by authoritative bodies.
The International Union of Radio Science has several commissions corresponding to the following topics of interest:
Commission A - Electromagnetic Metrology
Antennas
Atomic-based mechatronics
Bioeffects and medical applications
EMC and EM metrology
High-frequency and millimeter wireless metrology
Impulse radar
Interconnect and packaging
Materials
Measurements and calibration in propagation
Microwave to submillimeter measurements/standards
Noise
Quantum metrology and fundamental concepts
Space plasma characterization
Techniques for remote sensing
Test facilities
THz metrology
Time and frequency
Time-domain metrology
Commission B - Fields and Waves
Antenna arrays
Antennas: recent advances and future outlook
Antenna theory
design and measurements
Cognitive radio
Complex media
bandgap structures
biological
geophysical media
metamaterials
and others
Educational methods and tools
Electromagnetic interaction and coupling
Guided waves and waveguiding structures
High-frequency techniques
Imaging
inverse scattering and remote sensing
Mathematical modeling of electromagnetic problems
Microstrip antennas and printed devices
Multiphysics electromagnetics
Nanoscale electromagnetics
Nonlinear electromagnetics
Numerical methods
differential-and integral-equation based
hybrid and other techniques
Optical phenomena
Optimization techniques in electromagnetics
Propagation phenomena and effects
Rough surfaces and random media
Scattering and diffraction
Theoretical electromagnetics
THz antennas and propagation
Transient fields effects and systems
Ultra-wideband electromagnetics
Wireless communications
Commission C - Radiocommunication Systems and Signal Processing
Cognitive radio and software-defined radio
Distributed sensor networks and sensors array processing
Energy-efficient ("green") communications
Information theory, coding, modulation and detection
MIMO and MISO systems
Novel radio communication systems
Physics-based signal processing
Radar target detection, localization, and tracking
Radio localization and positioning
Signal and image processing
Spectrum and medium utilization
Statistical signal processing of waves in random media
Synthetic aperture and space-time processing
Wireless networking
Commission D - Electronics and Photonics
Broadband ubiquitous network
Energy harvesting in wireless systems
Fiber lasers and solid state lasers
Graphene nanoelectronics applications
Multi-physics modeling in radio frequency nanoelectronics
Optical sensors and biosensors
Plasmonics
RF MEMS and NEMS
Signal processing antennas
60 GHz electronics
Trends in RFID for identification and sensing
Trends in THz communications
Commission E - Electromagnetic Environment and Interference
Communication in the presence of noise
Crosstalk
Electromagnetic compatibility education
Electromagnetic compatibility measurements and standards
Electromagnetic noise of natural origin
Electromagnetic radiation hazards
High-power effects of transients on electronic systems
Spectrum management and utilization
Commission F - Wave Propagation and Remote Sensing
Propagation measurements/models for fixed and mobile links
Measurements of fixed and mobile channels
Propagation models
Multipath mitigation
Fixed terrestrial links: measurements and design strategies
Surface/atmosphere interaction
Dispersion/delay
Effects of natural/man-made structures
Outdoor to indoor propagation
Multi link MIMO channels
UWB channel characteristics,Small cell propagation
Remote sensing of the Earth/planets by radio waves
Passive sensing at millimeter wavelengths
Interferometry and SAR
Sensing of snow in open and forested environments
Remote sensing of precipitation
Atmospheric sensing
Sensing of soil moisture and biomass
Ocean and ice sensing
Urban environments
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
Underground imaging
Propagation and remote sensing in complex and random media
Commission G - Ionospheric Radio and Propagation
Ionospheric imaging
Ionospheric morphology
Ionospheric modeling and data assimilation
Radar and radio techniques for ionospheric diagnostics
Space weather - radio effects
Transionospheric radio propagation and systems effects
Commission H - Waves in Plasma
Chaos and turbulence in plasma
Plasma instabilities and wave propagation
Spacecraft-plasma interactions
Solar/planetary plasma interactions
Wave-wave and wave-particle interactions
Waves in laboratory plasmas
Commission J - Radio Astronomy
Detection of short-duration transients
Developments in array technology for radio astronomy
New telescopes, techniques, and observations
Radio frequency interference mitigation and spectrum usage
Square Kilometre Array
Timely technical tutorials
Commission K - Electromagnetics in Biology and Medicine
Biological effects
Dosimetry and exposure assessment
Electromagnetic imaging and sensing applications
Human body interactions with antennas and other electromagnetic devices
Therapeutic, rehabilitative, and other biomedical applications
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) has several study groups, each made of working parties, as follows:
Study Group 1 - Spectrum management
1A: Spectrum engineering techniques
1B: Spectrum management methodologies and economic strategies
1C: Spectrum monitoring
Study Group 3 - Radiowave propagation
3J: Propagation fundamentals
3K: Point-to-area propagation
3L: Ionospheric propagation and radio noise
3M: Point-to-point and Earth-space propagation
Study Group 4 - Satellite services
4A: Efficient orbit/spectrum utilization for the fixed-satellite service (FSS) and broadcasting-satellite service (BSS)
4B: Systems, air interfaces, performance and availability objectives for the fixed-satellite service (FSS), broadcasting-satellite service (BSS) and mobile-satellite service (MSS), including IP-based applications and satellite news gathering (SNG)
4C: Efficient orbit/spectrum utilization for the mobile-satellite service (MSS) and the radiodetermination-satellite service (RDSS)
Study Group 5 - Terrestrial services
5A: Land mobile service above 30 MHz (excluding IMT); wireless access in the fixed service; amateur and amateur-satellite services
5B: Maritime mobile service including the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS); the aeronautical mobile service and the radiodetermination service
5C: Fixed wireless systems; HF and other systems below 30 MHz in the fixed and land mobile services
5D: IMT systems (International Mobile Telecommunications)
Study Group 6 - Broadcasting service
6A: Terrestrial broadcasting delivery
6B: Broadcast service assembly and access
6C: Programme production and quality assessment
Study Group 7 - Science services
7A: Time signals and frequency standard emissions: Systems and applications (terrestrial and satellite) for dissemination of standard time and frequency signals
7B: Space radiocommunication applications: Systems for transmission/reception of telecommanded and tele-metry data
7C: Remote sensing systems: for space operation and for space research
7D: Radio astronomy: remote sensing systems and applications for Earth exploration meteorology and plantetary sensing.
