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
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.
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
Appointment as a Lecturer in Medical Education
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
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”
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
Parliamentary Submission Published
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
Aerospace Human Factors Association (AsHFA)
ASBX 2021:
Australian Space Biology x Health Summit
GOWME – Global Organization for
Wilderness Medicine Education
Aviation/Aerospace Australia
Space Health Webinar Co-Organiser
Women’s Health in Space Group
Global Space Health Network Convenor
Parliamentary Inquiry Advocacy
Public Hearing Invitation: Inquiry into Developing Australia’s Space Industry
Giving Birth in Space
AsMA Denver – Service Awards (AFG)
AsMA Denver – Space Surgery Panel
AsMA Denver – Service Award (AsPS)
The Space Show
The Space Show Ep#58 Video
AsMA Denver – Space Surgery Panel
AIAA Adelaide Professionals Chapter Space Medicine Panel
Women in Space Chapter (WiSC)
Honourable mention in the Australian Space Awards 2021 ‘Hall of Fame’
Acta Astronautica Reviews
ISU 2021 Space Studies Program Mentor
‘Ticker News’ Interview
Australian Academy of Science 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
‘The Space Show’ Team 2021
Australian Space Awards 2021
Australian Space Awards 2021
Australian Space Awards 2021
The ‘dearMoon’ Project
ABC Radio Sydney “Drive” Program
COSMOS Magazine 90, March 2021
Review for Acta Astronautica
Ormond College Fellow
Hacker Noon Interview
She Runs Space
Submissions
Submission to the Parliament of Australia Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources “Inquiry 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
Send your name to Mars
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)
Interview for doctology.com.au
Published 14 December 2020
ABC Radio “Nightlife”
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/.
the ad astra vita project 