Astronaut Tells High School
Students: Want To Hitch A Ride To Mars? Become A Physiologist Now, Arrive At
The Red Planet 2020-25
SAN FRANCISCO (April 4, 2006) – Just like winning the
Nobel Prize, one way to be eligible to into space for NASA is by becoming a
successful physiologist or medical doctor, former payload specialist James
A. Pawelczyk told an audience of high school students and science teachers
today at an American Physiological Society Education program,
“Physiology for Life Science Teachers and Students” session at Experimental
Biology 2006 Monday.
Pawelczyk, associate professor of kinesiology and
physiology at Pennsylvania State University, said the major challenge of the
21st Century’s most ambitious project of reaching Mars “isn’t the
engineering work to design the spacecraft, because most of those tasks are
identified and being addressed. But the greatest unknown questions surround
the human body, which will present unprecedented challenges in space life
medicine and physiology.”
And who’s going to solve these problems? “Given the
current time frame for a Mars trip in 2020 to 2025, the scientists who will
do the research to address these issues are the high school students of
today,” told the audience which also included many APS physiologists, who
look forward to the annual presentation for students and teachers.
Day-long high school program introduces
‘inquiry-based’ physiological research
Marsha Lakes Matyas, APS
Director of Education Programs, said: “APS is pleased to, once again, bring
cutting edge physiology to students and teachers in the Bay Area. As a
national scientific organization, the APS offers a one-day program that
immerses students and teachers in the field of physiology, including the
chance to discuss research posters with APS scientists and catch the
excitement of scientific discovery through hands on activities.”
In addition to Pawelczyk’s insights into the challenges
of space travel and how earthbound physiological research helps solve some
of those issues (and vice-versa), the teachers and students have fun in
separate afternoon laboratory sessions. Students will “help Elvis get
healthy” by hands-on exploration of the relationship between the circulatory
system, exercise and other physiological factors.
At the same time, San Francisco Bay Area teachers will
meet with APS Fellowship Teachers from around the country who will
demonstrate “inquiry-rich” respiratory lessons and ideas on how to develop
similarly exciting laboratory experiences.
*Presentations:
*1. “What price a Martian? Human limits to exploring
the Red Planet,” by
APS Physiology for High School Life Science Teachers
and Students, San Francisco Marriott Hotel, Monday April 3, 2006. Lecture
at 9:30 a.m., followed by Careers in Physiology panel and an afternoon
of “inquiry-based” experiments. Full program at:
The full
program high school program is available at:
http://www.the-aps.org/education/EB/2006/EBworkshop06.html.
** 2. Pawelczyk will present “Effect of a somatostatin
analog on splanchnic hemodynamics and tilt-table tolerance,” 12:30 p.m.-
3 p.m. Tuesday April 4, APS Physiology gravitational and space Section
abstract #765.15/board #C657. Research was by Michael Curren, John
Florian, Sara Jarvis and Jim Pawelczyk, Pennsylvania State University.
Funding: Research was supported by grants from NASA and the National
Institutes of Health. (See separate press release)
Pawelczyk warns of radiation effects, skeletons like
100-year-olds, cancer risk
Speaking as a veteran space traveler, Pawelczyk noted
that as currently envisioned, the Mars probe would take as little 13 months
to a maximum of 30 months. “We run the possibility of losing nearly half the
bone mineral in some regions of the body, which would make the astronauts’
skeletons the equivalent of a 100-year-old person,” he said. Such fragile
bones could fractures, which would be a most unwelcome challenge.
“Another that’s less well-known,” he said, “is that in
deep space there are more highly energetic particles that are ions of metals
heavier than iron. On Earth, the only place we see such particles are in
fallout from nuclear explosions. But it’s estimated that by the time
travelers return from Mars, every one of the cells in their body will be
transited by a high energy event.
“What happens to the cells’ DNA?” Pawelczyk wondered.
“How will that affect human biology and cancer risk? Our ability to predict
these levels and the error in our estimates probably will be an order of
magnitude – plus OR minus,” he warned. More positively, he said the U.S.
recently activated a facility that will begin to study irradiating
biological tissue.
Many ways to join the adventure – and help solve
earthly disease mysteries
Pawelczyk assured the students that, “There will be a
lot for you to do. For instance, just like experiments on earth will help
solve some of the space challenges, studies both here and in space will
certainly have the potential to help solve such problems as osteoporosis,
muscle wasting and cardiovascular deconditioning that occur among the
growing ranks of our elderly and sedentary population.”
In concluding, he noted that the “wonder of physiology
is that all of the changes we experience in space are the body’s automatic
adaptations to the new physical environment. They are physiologically
appropriate, even though they would certainly be called maladaptations down
here on Earth. If we stayed out there that might be all right, but most us
want to come home to Mother Earth.”
* * *
Editor’s Note: For further
information or to schedule an interview with Dr. Pawelczyk or a
member of the Education High School program, please contact Donna Krupa at
the APS newsroom @ 415.905.1024 (March 31-April 5); or (703) 967-2751
(cell) or (301) 634-7209 (office),
dkrupa@the-aps.org; or Christine Guilfoy at 978.290.2400 (cell) or
301.634.7253.
A searchable
online program for EB is at
http://www.faseb.org/meetings/eb2006/call/default.htm
The
American Physiological Society was founded in 1887 to foster basic and
applied bioscience. The Bethesda, Maryland-based society has more than
10,000 members and publishes 14 peer-reviewed journals containing almost
4,000 articles annually.
APS
provides a wide range of research, educational and career support and
programming to further the contributions of physiology to understanding the
mechanisms of diseased and healthy states. In May 2004, APS received
the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science,
Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).
# # #
Experimental Biology is an annual
scientific meeting convened by the Federation of American Societies of
Experimental Biology, including the American Physiological Society (APS)
and other biomedical societies. The meeting features “nominated” lectures,
symposia, research presentations, awards, a job placement center, and an
exhibit of scientific equipment, supplies, and publications. This year’s
participating Societies are APS, American Association of
Anatomists, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
American Society for Investigative Pathology, American Society for
Nutritional Sciences, and the American Society for Pharmacology and
Experimental Therapeutics.
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