Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA)
- Reviewer/judge for the 2024 AsMA Scholarships
- Reviewer/judge for the 2024 AMSRO Trailblazer Scholarship and the SMA Scholarships
- Reviewer/judge for the 2024 AsMA Associate Fellows Group Ellingson Award
- Member, 2024 all-AsMA Social Committee
- Member, 2024 AsPS Luncheon Committee
- Member, 2024 AsPS Nominating Committee.
AsMA AMSRO Award Nominations
Honoured to be nominated by my mentees for the 2024 AsMA AMSRO (Aerospace Medicine Student and Residents’ Organisation) Outstanding Mentorship Award and the Anita Mantri, PhD Memorial Award.
A/AA A24 Airspace Awards
- Organisational nomination for the Melbourne International Space Festival.
- Personal nomination for Dr Rowena Christiansen.
GEO Health CoP
2024 Australian Space Awards
Honoured to be selected as a finalist in three categories:
Space surgery paper
A paper written together with mentees Dr Dora Babocs and Angela Preda on “Cis-Lunar and Surface Missions: Health Risks and Potential Surgical Conditions” has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Space Safety Engineering (first in a series of papers that we hope to publish).
Invitations
Dr Rowena Christiansen was invited, on behalf of the Maldives Space Research Organization (MSRO) and the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), to be a guest speaker for the 10th Asia-Pacific Space Generation Workshop 2024 (AP-SGW 2024), to be held in the Crossroads, Maldives on April 22nd-24th, 2024.
Invited to join the advisory panel for the “Human Reproduction and Sexual Health in Space: Defining a community and the roadmap Expert Symposium“, 2-3 October 2024 Space Center Houston.
The ad astra vita project was invited to participate in an Australian Space Agency delegation to the European Astronaut Centre and DLR, the German Aerospace Centre, in Cologne, Germany, in mid-March 2024: https://www.space.gov.au/news-and-media/opening-doors-for-human-spaceflight-collaboration.
Space Surgery Association Newsletter feature, December 2023
Aerospace Medical Association Global Liaison and Outreach Committee (GLOC) appointment
2024 iGIANT Ambassador Award
Extremely honoured to receive this wonderful award and to participate in the amazing work being done by Dr Saralyn Mark and iGIANT. This wonderful project also provides some outreach initiatives for young people to participate in and frequent discussion roundtables: https://www.igiant.org.
Journal articles submitted for peer review, and mentor/reviewer
Co-author for a textbook chapter on “Vascular Surgery in Spaceflight“.
Contributing author for an academic paper on “Challenges to developing Astropharmacy: A qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework“, submitted to Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.
Co-author on “Space Oncology: A Comprehensive Scoping Review“, submitted to npj Microgravity.
Co-author on two space surgery papers submitted to the Journal of Space Safety Engineering, based on presentations and papers for the 2024 IAC in Baku.
Mentor and reviewer for post-graduate dissertation prepared by Dr Dora Babocs: “The Potential of Utilizing Surgical Procedures for the Management of Vascular Emergencies during Long-Duration Spaceflight“. The dissertation received an excellent grade and high praise from the examiners.
AsMA Ad Hoc Committee on Commercial Spaceflight Scoping Review project.
Team leader for the Musculoskeletal, Orthopaedic, and Renal (MSK) Team for the AsMA Ad Hoc Committee on Commercial Spaceflight Scoping Review project. The scoping review is being conducted by ten different international teams based around different body systems, and is using Covidence and PRISMA as foundational components. The MSK team is currently wrapping up the initial stage of screening around 5,000 abstracts generated by a comprehensive search strategy. The next stage will be full-text review of the articles selected for inclusion.
Editing the videos from the 2023 International Humans in Space Summit
All the recordings from the 2023 International Humans in Space Summit are now available on the YouTube playlist. Further information about the Summit (including profiles for most presenters) can be found on the web page.
Proposed Aerospace Nursing Textbook
Part of an international team of authors, and contributing as a co-author to a chapter on inter-disciplinary health care teams, and the proposed lead author for a chapter on space health, including commercial spaceflight considerations.
Submission to the AsMA Ad Hoc Committee on Aerospace Graduate Medical Education
Article for the “Space Zoo” website on behalf of AsMA
International Space University (ISU) Space Studies Program, Houston 2024
Submitted a team project proposal around developing an international accessible aerospace medicine education and training program, a proposal for a workshop on extreme environments, and applications to be part of the supporting faculty.
Invited member, Star Harbor (USA) Medical Advisory Committee
Co-author on published article in BEATS
Presentation on space medicine for the National Engineering School of Sousse, Tunisia (ENISo) and the 12th edition of the Forum of Convergence ENISo-Enterprises (FCEE’12), 06 December 2023
Facebook event page: https://facebook.com/events/s/forum-de-convergence-eniso-ent/629367525809619/ and website: http://www.forumcee.com/wp.
Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA)
‘Remote reviewer’ member of the Scientific Program Committee for the 2024 Aerospace Medical Association Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.
2023 IAC Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan
Co-author on two ‘space surgery’ presentations for the 2023 International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Melbourne International Space Festival 2023 and the International Humans in Space Summit 2023
Concept creator and co-organiser for SpaceFest 2023; Coordinator for IHS 2023. Presenter for the “Life in Space” Symposium and Instructor for the “Austronaut” Human Spaceflight Fundamentals Workshop.
NASA and Australian Space Agency visit to the University of Melbourne
SpIRIT Satellite Space Launch, 30 November 2023
Attended the launch as an invited guest and enjoyed mingling with local and national space industry leaders.
Article for ‘The Conversation’
Your article “Alone in a dark cave: what can we learn from extreme survival experiments?” has been published on The Conversation.
Here’s the link:
https://theconversation.com/alone-in-a-dark-cave-what-can-we-learn-from-extreme-survival-experiments-208300.
Please share your article amongst your networks. And to help us secure the widest possible audience for you and other authors, please encourage others to sign up to The Conversation’s newsletter.
Forbes Hungary and ‘space surgery’
In early September 2023, interviewed by Forbes Hungary for an article about ‘space surgery‘ and mentee Dr Dora Babocs.
Clinical Mentor for the MBSI BioDesign Competition
Melbourne BioInnovation Student Initiative (MBSI), is a registered charity and non-profit organisation, operated by volunteers from varying disciplines, including medicine, engineering, finance, and science. Beginning with only a small team of like-minded classmates in late 2020, it now counts over 100 volunteers and 200 members across the organisation. The Vinuri De Silva BioDesign Competition is designed and facilitated by the BioDesign Team of MBSI.
Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, May 2024
Co-author on four abstracts (three on space surgery and one on space oncology) submitted for the Aerospace Medical Association Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, May 2024. First author on a poster abstract about student reflections on the University of Melbourne ‘space health’ subject and the Musculoskeletal Team contribution to the second panel abstract for the AsMA Ad Hoc Committee on Commercial Spaceflight Scoping Review project.
AWEMS 2023 Conference ‘Discover New Heights’ Guest Speaker
At ‘Discover New Heights’ AWEMS 2023 Conference we are extremely excited to have Rowena presenting on ‘Commercial Spaceflight: Risk and Reward’. Tickets to this year’s conference are available now. AWEMS members have access to discounted prices so become an AWEMS member today.
Mt Baw Baw Volunteer Ski Patrol
Long-standing appointment as Honorary Medical Officer. Appointed public member of the Mt Baw Baw Ski Patrol Public Fund Sub Committee.
NASA HRP IWS 2024
Co-author with Drs Dora Babocs, Mark Melin, and others, on three posters accepted for the 2024 NASA HRP IWS:
- Traditional surgical methods and cutting-edge techniques: pioneering endovascular surgery in long-duration human space exploration
- Surgical concerns from accelerated atherosclerosis during long-duration spaceflight
- From a surgeon’s perspective: factors influencing wound healing during long-duration human deep space exploration.
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:
Invited to be a panellist as part of the Space Forum at the UIP 2023 World Congress and 37th AVLS Annual Congress, Miami Beach Florida, September 17-21, 2023.
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).
Semmelweis International Vascular Symposium
Co-author on a ‘space surgery’ poster (with Dr Dora Babocs and Angela Preda) 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“.
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”.
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 