The ad astra vita project
The ad astra vita project (“the Project”) was founded by Dr Rowena Christiansen in early 2020. “ad astra vita” translates from the Latin as “taking life to the stars”.
What are the “space life sciences“?
NASA’s definition: “The space life sciences study interactions between living organisms and characteristics of the space environment. These studies specifically address the structure and function of living organisms in space and interdependent relationships of organisms with each other and/or the space environment while also touching on the origin, evolution and potential for extraterrestrial life.”
As a physician and educator who is passionate about space exploration and the good health and wellbeing of humans in the space environment, Rowena realised that, although much great work is being carried out across the space medicine and life sciences (“SMLS”) sector, there was no website that people can visit to find out more about people and organisations who are actively involved with, or have an interest in, space health/SMLS.
As a result of working in pre-hospital medicine and mentoring medical students, Rowena became aware that there is a thirst for knowledge about human physiology and medicine in austere and extreme environments and information about related organisations, conferences and educational opportunities.
The ad astra vita project has been established to address these needs and develop a resources portal which has the potential to benefit all Australians engaged with space health/SMLS, and our international partners and collaborators.
In addition to the website resources, the Project is proud to be a core supporter and collaborator for the International Humans in Space Summit, and has its own YouTube channel with numerous space health-related educational videos.
The work of building up the Project is currently being undertaken voluntary basis, and the ad astra vita project is a philanthropic not-for-profit organisation. Although there is a consultancy arm, which has the potential to link team members with paid employment, the Project itself will not gain any financial advantage from this.
The ad astra vita project is an “open access” organisation, in that anyone is free to contribute information to it, and any person with a demonstrable interest in space health/SMLS may express interest in joining the Consultancy Team.
The Project is open to accepting grants, sponsorships or charitable donations to assist its work. Any person or organisation wishing to discuss this possibility should contact the Project’s founder, Dr Rowena Christiansen, via contactus@adastravita.com.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
NELSON MANDELA
Website credit for image and quotation: https://blog.usaid.gov/2013/04/education-the-most-powerful-weapon/
Image credit: School girls in Sana’a gather for their lesson / Clinton Doggett, USAID (accessed 23 January 2020)
the ad astra vita project 