Our Recent Activities

Australian Space Awards 2023

Honoured to be selected as the winner of the “Innovator of the Year – Individual” category, and also to be nominated for the Excellence Award.


Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans

Invited presentation on the new ‘Space Health’ course at the University of Melbourne:

Mentor and co-author for a poster on “Surgical Disciplines in Long-Duration Spaceflight” with Dr Dora Babocs and Angela Preda:


Aerospace Physiology Society

Honoured to receive the 2023 AsMA Aerospace Physiology Society (AsPS) Fred A. Hitchcock Award for “Outstanding career contributions”, and also to be able to collect the plaque for the 2021 AsPS President’s Award in person.

AsMA Executive Committe

It is a huge honour and a very special career highlight to be the first Australian elected as a Vice-President for the Aerospace Medical Association (Vice-President International Services for 2023-24).


Contributions

Reviewer/participant in the 2023 Texas State University/TRISH LBJ SHIP Mentoring Matters program:


Participant in the AsMA AMSRO Planetary Protection group, aiming to produce a set of informational guidelines for groups and individuals involved in the support of the processes of handling, securing, transport, storage, and other activities involving extra-terrestrial samples.


Participant in the AsMA Associate Fellows Group sub-committee for the establishment of a new AFG Scholarship.


Judge for the 2023 AsMA Space Medicine Association Scholarships. Member of the 2023 AsMA Space Surgery Association Nominating Committee and judge for the AsMA Space Surgery Association Investigator Award. Reviewer/judge for the 2023 AsMA Fellows Scholarship, the 2023 AsMA AMSRO Scientific Award, the 2023 AMSRO Anita Mantri, PhD Memorial Award, and the 2023 AMSRO Outstanding Mentorship Award. Judge for the Space Medicine Ireland Bursary 2023.


Australian Space Awards 2023

Honoured to be selected as a finalist in three categories:


Invited to Co-Chair the slide session “Hypoxia Potpourri” at the AsMA Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans in late May 2023.

Wound Care Masterclass
IAC (International Astronautical Congress) 2023

Co-author on two ‘space surgery’ abstracts accepted for the 74th International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.
2-6 October 2023: “Cis-Lunar and Surface Missions: Health Risks and Potential Surgical Conditions” and “Reaching Mars: Medical Risks and Potential Surgical Conditions in the Martian Environment and Onboard”.

Semmelweis International Vascular Symposium

Co-author on a ‘space surgery’ poster accepted for the Semmelweis International Vascular Symposium, Budapest, Hungary, 18-20 May, 2023: “Review: Significance of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Surgery in Long-duration Spaceflight“.


Space Science in Context 2023

26 January 2023: online poster presentation for SSIC 2023. Attendees had prior access to the poster slides and were able to engage in a 20-minute Q&A session.

AIAA Melbourne Section Inaugural Meeting
Swiss Asclepios III Analog Project

Presentation for the Project team on the ‘Hazards of Human Spaceflight’ and ‘Space Medicine 101’ (18 March 2023).


NASA HRP IWS 2023

07 February 2023: Poster presentation for the 2023 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop in Galveston, Texas.


Avalon Airshow 2023
Space4Women Mentor Reappointment

Reappointed as a Space4Women Mentor for 2023 (volunteer role). Space4Women is an initiative of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.

The Space4Women Mentorship Program matches experienced mentors in the space sector with women and girls (mentees) who would like to pursue their studies or a career in space or STEM related subjects.

Mentees are an indispensable element for the future of the space industry. In pursuit of space career, young women and girls need the motivation and support. Mentors are an important part of encouraging women and girls to pursue education and careers in the space sector. As professionals and leaders in the industry, both men and women, can be seen as role models for young women and girls to learn from and gain support.

Prospective mentees can apply until 04 January 2023. Read more here.


2022 World Space Forum

Virtual attendance at the United Nations / Austria World Space Forum Sustainability in Space for sustainability on Earth“, 13 – 15 December 2022. 

Organized jointly by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (BMK), and the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA).

Read more about the WSF 2022 here.

Contributing author – published article
Avalon Airshow 2023

Abstract accepted for an allocated speaking opportunity on “Space Health for Medical Students Launches in Melbourne”.

Microgravity Workshop’

Attended a three-day Microgravity Workshop (28-30 November 2022) organised by Professor Patrick Humbert from LIMS at La Trobe University and presented by Dr Jens Hauslage from DLR (the German Aerospace Agency).


DLR Human Physiology Workshop 2022

Virtual attendance at the DLR (German Aerospace Agency) Institute of Aerospace Medicine Human Physiology Workshop (held in Cologne and online on 03 December 2022).

Sharing the good news
Melbourne Medical School Staff Newsletter, December 2022
International Humans in Space Summit 2022
Austronaut Workshop’

Austronaut Performance Fundamentals Workshop, Saturday November 5th, 12:00pm to 6:00pm, UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT (Building 11), Ultimo, Sydney.

‘Humans in Space’ Panel

Moderator for the ‘Humans in Space’ panel at the International Humans in Space Summit, Sydney, 08 November 2022.

Pictured with other members of the official welcoming party who spoke during the opening of the conference on 07 November 2022.

Provided technical support for two of the US-based panels:

German and Australian Space Connections

The German-Australian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Global Victoria Trade Alliance and Swinburne University of Technology is hosting an evening event on “Connecting the Victorian and German Space Sectors” on 30 November 2022. Proud to be a panellist.

Contributed several items for the AsMA ‘For Students and Residents’ webpage:

Guest Editor for ‘Frontiers’

Guest Associate Editor for the Frontiers Research Topic: Space Mechanobiology and Medicine – Volume II.

‘Frontiers’ Guest Editor
Editor for “Skin microbiome considerations for long haul space flights” (published September 2022)
Abstracts submitted

December 2022 – Poster abstract submitted for Space Science in Context (#SSiC2023), an experimental virtual conference bringing together people interested in and who study outer space and/or its social contexts for an interactive event! Learn more here. (Accepted)

October 2022 – The AsMA Education and Training committee proposed a panel for the 2023 AsMA Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans on ‘Space Medicine Education’. Rowena was invited to join the panel to talk about the new University of Melbourne course “Human Health in the Space Environment”, and an abstract was submitted. The other abstracts relate to US initiatives, including UTMB, BCM, and the University of Colorado. The panel and abstracts were accepted.

In late September 2022, abstracts were submitted for the DLR Human Physiology Workshop in December 2022, and the 2023 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (Accepted).

Speaker invitations

Invited to speak at the United Nations/China 2nd Global Partnership Workshop on Space Exploration and Innovation, 21 – 24 November 2022, hosted by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the China National Space Administration on “Space health for medical students launches in Melbourne”.

Abstract Reviews

Ten abstracts reviewed for the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) 2023 Congress in Ireland.

AsMA Scientific Program Committee ‘Remote reviewer’ of 58 space medicine abstracts for the 2023 AsMA Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans.

Speaker invitations

Invited to travel and speak at the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and Arab Union for Astronomy & Space Sciences (AUASS) INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM 2022 on Space Exploration-Moon and Beyond, 2-4 November 2022 in Amman, Jordan, on the subject of ‘humans in space’. Abstracts provided as requested on “Learning how to live on the Moon and Mars” and “Commercial Spaceflight – risks and rewards“. The latter was selected, and a pre-recorded presentation was provided.

Also invited to participate as a panellist on “Space Technology and Health on Earth” for the 8th Mexican Congress of Space Medicine 2022 on 07 October 2022.

APOSA Expert Mentor

Expert Mentor at the International Moon Day ‘Lunar Design Thinking’ workshop organised by the Moon Village Association India and APOSA (Asia Pacific Oceania Space Association) on 20 July 2022.

Journal and ResearchActivities

Co-author on “The Impact of Weightlessness on Lymphatic and Endothelial Glycocalyx Function; A review of current data” by Hettrick et al, submitted to Comprehensive Physiology in August 2022.

Collaborator on a new research project re “The Integrated Surgical Model: To predict on-board surgical risks and potential emergencies during deep-space travel”.

Reviewer for npj Microgravity.

Reviewer for Acta Astronautica.

‘Space health’ tertiary education in Melbourne
New space education subjects in Melbourne
Appointment as a Lecturer in Medical Education

University of Melbourne profile
Awards from the AsMA Associate Fellows Group, May 2022
A22 Aviation/Aerospace AustraliaAirspace Awards Finalist
Medsmos – Exploring Space Medicine

Interviewed for the Medsmos – Exploring Space Medicine podcast (developed by Aki Miyazawa, a final-year high school student in Japan):

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/medsmos-exploring-space-medicine/id1620157093.

Interview on ‘human reproduction in space’ for Moni’s Blog
Jus Ad Astra – Space for all Humankind: Gendered Perspectives in Health

An online blog for the Jus Ad Astra website from Jane Andrews and our founder Dr Rowena Christiansen (PDF available for download):

https://www.jusadastra.org/Gendered_Perspectives_Health.html

Humanity’s growing presence in outer space underscores the imperative for global leaders to accelerate and fulfil gender equality and inclusion from a human rights-based approach. When Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon in 1969, the famous quote uttered as he first stepped onto the lunar surface marked a watershed moment for humanity – “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind”. More than fifty years later, the time is ripe to both acknowledge and expedite the role of women across human space exploration…

Singapore SPLCR – SLS
Keynote speaker talk given on 04 February 2022
Voluntary activities

Recent appointments to the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) Ad Hoc Committee on Commercial Spaceflight and the AsMA Education and Training Committee.

In early 2022, informal support for an interstate Australian university wishing to incorporate a ‘humans in space’ element into one of its healthcare courses.

In late March 2022, interviewed by a ‘COSMOS‘ journalist about space analogs and Antarctica’s importance in this context.

Judge for the 2022 AsMA/Space Medicine Association Scholarships.

KCL Letter of Thanks
Australian Space Awards 2022 Finalist
Accepted AsMA 2022 abstract – Co-Chair
Accepted AsMA 2022 Panel abstract
Accepted AsMA 2022 abstract – Co-Author
Presentation on “Human reproduction in space – challenges and conundrums”
Presentation for medical students at King’s College London in a fundraising event for ‘Aeromobility’.

SGAC Asia-Pacific Workshop 2021

SGAC Asia-Pacific Workshop 2021

Colbrow Medics MCI Triage Presentation
AIAA ASCEND Human Rights in Space Panel Session
AsMA Scientific Program Committee Remote Review 2021
PhD Evaluation

PhD evaluation for Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University Uttar Pradesh, (Formerly UP Technical University)
Sector-11, Jankipuram Vistar Yojana, Sitapur Road,
Lucknow (UP) India -226031

UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction
Space Health Risks Research Group
New member of the University College London UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction Space Health Risks Research Group
Aerospace Human Factors Association (AsHFA)
ASBX 2021:
Australian Space Biology x Health Summit
GOWME – Global Organization for
Wilderness Medicine Education
Presentation for GOWME, Wednesday 6 October 2021
Aviation/Aerospace Australia
Space Health Webinar Co-Organiser
Co-organiser of the Aviation/Aerospace Australia and Swinburne Space Industry Virtual Conference Series | Space Health webinar held on Tuesday 5 October 2021
Women’s Health in Space Group
Supporting Manager for the new Women’s Health in Space LinkedIn Group (July 2021)
Global Space Health Network Convenor
New LinkedIn Group – The Global Space Health Network (August 2021)
Parliamentary Inquiry Advocacy

Public Hearing Invitation: Inquiry into Developing Australia’s Space Industry

Extract from the invitation to address the Inquiry. Dr Christiansen appeared before the Australian Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Developing Australia’s Space Industry to advocate for the development of aerospace medicine post-graduate university qualifications and training and career pathways.
September 2021 Newsletter
Giving Birth in Space
Contributor to the “Giving Birth in Space” Report, September 2021
AsMA Denver – Service Awards (AFG)
Service Awards from the AsMA Associate Fellows Group, August 2021
AsMA Denver – Space Surgery Panel
Co-presenter for the Space Surgery Panel at the 2021 AsMA meeting in Denver, Colorado
AsMA Denver – Service Award (AsPS)
Service Award from the Aerospace Physiology Society
The Space Show
The Space Show, Saturday 14 August 2021.

The Space Show Ep#58 Video
AsMA Denver – Space Surgery Panel
Presentation for the Space Surgery Panel at the 2021 AsMA meeting in Denver, Colorado
AIAA Adelaide Professionals Chapter Space Medicine Panel
AIAA Adelaide Professionals Chapter, Saturday 7 August 2021
Women in Space Chapter (WiSC)

Honourable mention in the Australian Space Awards 2021 ‘Hall of Fame’

Space Doctors‘ ‘Hall of Fame’
Acta Astronautica Reviews
ISU 2021 Space Studies Program Mentor
ISU Space Studies Program 2021 Mentor
‘Ticker News’ Interview
Friday 2 July 2021 – Interviewed by Ticker News about ‘space tourism’.
Australian Academy of Science Report
Australian Academy of Science Rapid Response Information Report
(1 July 2021) What are the growth areas in domestic STEM skills to support jobs in the space industry, and how can these be addressed by the tertiary (university and relevant VET) sector?
University of Melbourne Medical Staff Newsletter
UNOOSA ‘Space4Women’ Mentor 2021-22
Selected as a UNOOSA “Space4Women” Mentor for 2021-22
‘The Space Show’ Team 2021
The Space Show Mission Control Team 2021

Australian Space Awards 2021

Dr Rowena Christiansen of the ad astra vita project

Australian Space Awards 2021

Dr Rowena Christiansen of the ad astra vita project

Australian Space Awards 2021

The ‘dearMoon’ Project
ABC Radio Sydney “Drive” Program
Interview with Richard Glover, Thursday 18 March 2021
COSMOS Magazine 90, March 2021
Interviewed for the “A shot at the Moon” article by Tory Shepherd in Cosmos 90.
Review for Acta Astronautica
April 2021
Ormond College Fellow
Reconfirmed as a Fellow of Ormond College, University of Melbourne, for 2021
Hacker Noon Interview
Interviewed for an article on human reproduction in space (06 May 2021)
She Runs Space
The “She Runs Space” initiative from Dr Ilaria Cinelli
Submissions

Submission to the Parliament of Australia Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and ResourcesInquiry into Developing Australia’s Space Industry” (February 2021)

University of Melbourne MD Discovery Subject Expression of Interest (February 2021). As of mid-March, the Discovery Proposal Appraisal Group (D-PAG) has now assessed all the EOI for the Foundation (year 1) discovery modules and allocated them to a relevant Discovery Themed working group.

Mentoring

International Space University Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program 2021

International Space University Interactive Space Program 2020


Abstracts

Abstracts accepted for the IAC conference in Dubai, October 2021


IWD 2021 Monash Women in STEMM #choosetocelebrate
Kudoboard post – 25 February 2021
Send your name to Mars
Boarding Pass for Mars 2020
February 26, 2021
This artwork is etched on a metal plate attached to a crossbeam near the back of the Mars Perseverance rover. Three silicon chips containing 10.9 million names of Mars fans are mounted to the actual plate. In the center of the anodized plate, the Sun shines brightly, giving light to both Earth and Mars. The Sun’s rays feature some hidden Morse code, spelling out a message of unity for our global community: “Explore as One.” (February 26, 2021)

Presentation for ISU Alumni Space Careers Panel – Saturday 6 February 2021

Presentation on Human Reproduction in Space – Challenges and Conundrums – Sunday 7 February 2021

Two submissions to the European Space Agency’s COMMUNITY CONSULTATION – ESA HRE SCISPACE RESEARCH ROADMAPS (February 2021). Both submissions were accepted for further consideration.

Doctorpreneurs: Dr Rowena Christiansen
Interview for doctology.com.au
Published 14 December 2020
ABC Radio “Nightlife”
ABC Radio Nightlife program – Sunday 8 November 2020

Presentation on Space Tourism – A Cautionary Tale for the Aviation and Aerospace Australia and Swinburne University Virtual Conference Series on 10 November 2020

Presentation on Principles of Triage for Mass Casualty Incidents for the Colbrow Medics CPD Session on 9 November 2020



WEBSITE CREDITS:
~ Dr Mae Jemison quote and image: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalAstroSoc/photos/on-iwd2020-were-thinking-of-this-quote-from-astronaut-mae-jemison-dont-let-anyon/10158134550064521/.

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