Establishing molecular mechanisms of and countermeasures to muscle decline in space
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Medicine
Abstract
People must ultimately colonize other planetary bodies in order to avoid extinction. This is a long term goal of the world's space agencies. A major biological hurdle to this long term goal is the decay of muscle during spaceflight. Similarly, the decay of muscle with age is a major public health problem in the UK. We have developed a small worm into a model for understanding and countering the effects of spaceflight and age upon muscle. In space, much like human muscle, the muscles of this worm display decreased expression of muscle proteins as the result of decreased expression of a master regulator of muscle gene expression. These worms, like astronauts, also display hints of altered metabolism as the result of altered insulin effects. Here we propose to test if, as predicted from past spaceflight and ground based experiments, these worms are weaker in space. The testing of muscle strength in space has already been reviewed and approved to be flown by NASA. We also propose to test if altered muscle attachments and/or altered insulin signalling cause the changes in worm muscle in flight and if we can reverse these effects by altering muscle attachments or insulin signalling in space. The testing of causes of and counter measures to muscle decline in space has already been reviewed and approved to be flown by ESA. BBSRC funding for these studies will allow us to carry them out and will enhance our understanding of the molecular causes of, consequences of, and countermeasures to muscle decline in space. Based upon the scores this work received by both NASA and ESA, completion of this work will firmly keep the UK at the forefront of the field of space biology. Additionally, as muscle decline with age is a problem for the UK and elsewhere there is the clear possibility that findings from this work may be relevant to understanding and counting the decline of muscle with age on Earth.
Technical Summary
We have established the worm C. elegans as a model for studying spaceflight and age induced muscle alteration. Like man, worms display decreased myosin and myoD expression in flight as well as altered expression of genes predicted to be controlled by FOXO. We have shown, on Earth, that RNAi against or mutation in some genes encoding adhesome components, that decline in expression in space, result in weaker worms. We have proposed to NASA to determine if worm strength declines in flight and to ESA to determine if insulin and/or adhesome alteration controls altered gene and protein expression in flight; both proposals have been successful and deemed technically feasible with existing spaceflight hardware. Here we ask for funding to support this selected work. We will use our force measurement device in flight to determine if strength declines as predicted; ground controls and a positive control are included. We will use our past gene expression (affymetrix) and protein expression (iTRAQ) methods to analyse gene and protein expression in wild-type, insulin receptor over expressing, FOXO null, altered adhesome mutant, and in wild-type worms treated with a drug predicted to alter adhesome remodelling. Results from these experiments will tell us if past gene and protein expression changes are indeed relevant to altered muscle physiology in flight and also if gene and protein expression changes are due to altered insulin and/or adhesome function in flight. These results will provide clear direction for the international community on the cause of muscle decline in flight and suggest molecularly based strategies for countering this decline. Additionally, as both muscle attachment proteins and insulin signalling decline in ageing humans it is possible that our results may also be relevant to understanding and treating sarcopenia.
Planned Impact
In addition to the academic beneficiaries we believe this work will benefit the staff working on the project, the wider public, the commercial private sector, international government space agencies, charities, and possibly museums. The staff working on this project will benefit in five ways. First, the named researcher will gain experience with laboratory techniques not previously employed by them. Second, the researcher will gain experience running a project. Third, the researcher will gain first-hand experience interacting with the media. Fourth, the researcher will gain knowledge of the international politics associated with spaceflight research; Co-I Etheridge will also increase his abilities in this area. Fifth, all staff working on the project will gain additional experience with classroom and web-based public interaction. All of these types of professional development will aid in ability to seek further employment, with the management experience being the most transferable skill the PDRA will continue to develop. These impacts will be felt within the first year and fully realized in four years. The wider public will benefit from this work in the form of new diagnostics, treatments, and ultimately decreased public healthcare expenditure. The new molecular mechanisms which we identify as regulating muscle can immediately be researched by ourselves or others as potential new diagnostics or therapeutic targets. Successful therapeutics should reduce the public healthcare expenditure on conditions associated with muscle which has lost homeostasis (for example in the aged). Additionally all sectors of the UK will also benefit from increased productivity as the result of decreased loss of work days due to muscle problems. As this is basic research, these impacts will most likely not be felt for at least 10-15 years. Note that we will also capitalize upon the public's interest in spaceflight by specifically engaging school aged children directly in our spaceflight work (see pathways to impact). The commercial private sector will benefit in much the same way that the academic beneficiaries will, specifically by having new targets for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics. These impacts will be felt toward the end of the project as we present and publish our findings. Additionally, the UK space industry will benefit by having an actively engaged space life sciences researcher available to provide advice to the UK Space Agency thereby maximizing economic return to the UK space industry. International government space agencies will also benefit much the same as the academics and commercial sector as they too will have novel targets for diagnostics and therapeutics for the muscle loss seen in astronauts, cosmonauts, and taikonauts. These impacts will be felt toward the end of the project as we present and publish our findings. Charities will also benefit in much the same way, particularly those charities that support increased quality of life in individuals with problems that involve loss of muscle homeostasis (for example: Research into Ageing, Cancer Research UK, The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign). Lastly, the Science Museum, National Space Centre and related museums will benefit from this work by having direct access to individuals, within the UK, who are actively engaged in life sciences research in space (e.g. we can assist them with activities, provide useful international contacts, and/or directly present to visitors). These impacts will be immediate. We will also engage ESA, the UK Space Agency, and museums to explore if it is possibly to display a mock up of the Columbus Science module or other portions of the ISS in the UK.
Organisations
- University of Nottingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- HAN University of Applied Sciences (Collaboration)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Collaboration)
- Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (Collaboration)
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Collaboration)
- Texas Tech University (Collaboration)
- University of Crete (Collaboration)
- Yonsei University (Collaboration)
- Southeast University China (Collaboration)
- Tohoku University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Collaboration)
Publications
Scott A
(2023)
Caenorhabditis elegans in microgravity: An omics perspective.
in iScience
Soni P
(2023)
Spaceflight Induces Strength Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans.
in Cells
Soni P
(2022)
Microfluidics-integrated spaceflight hardware for measuring muscle strength of Caenorhabditis elegans on the International Space Station
in npj Microgravity
Sudevan S
(2022)
Loss of physical contact in space alters the dopamine system in C. elegans.
in iScience
Sudevan S
(2019)
Mitochondrial dysfunction causes Ca2+ overload and ECM degradation-mediated muscle damage in C. elegans.
in FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Vintila AR
(2023)
Mitochondrial sulfide promotes life span and health span through distinct mechanisms in developing versus adult treated Caenorhabditis elegans.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Willis CRG
(2020)
Network analysis of human muscle adaptation to aging and contraction.
in Aging
Willis CRG
(2021)
Transcriptomic links to muscle mass loss and declines in cumulative muscle protein synthesis during short-term disuse in healthy younger humans.
in FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Willis CRG
(2021)
Transcriptomic adaptation during skeletal muscle habituation to eccentric or concentric exercise training.
in Scientific reports
Title | MME Logo |
Description | We developed, in collaboration with a semi-professional artist, a logo for our MM experiment. |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | This logo has been used in our educational outreach and media activities for the MM experiment. It has been distributed internationally to space sector workers, students, media, and the general public. General feedback has been that makes people feel more connected to the experiment and that, for space sector workers, it makes them feel more appreciated and part of the team. For the general public the main reaction has been my kids will love this. The logo can be found above "MME" on the link below. |
URL | https://www.mme-spaceworms.com/ |
Description | We have developed new European spaceflight hardware to support C. elegans worms on spaceflight missions to replace older hardware that is no longer flight worthy. Additionally, we have demonstrated that C. elegans with a mutation in the muscular dystrophy gene are weaker and that this muscle weakness can be reversed with the standard clinical treatment (which cannot work in worms as thought to act in people) as well as when treated with a novel compound. Additionally, we have shown worms get weaker as they age, in response to loss of nerve signal to muscle, and in response to diet restriction. We have also developed an automated device for worm lifespan analysis that can now be purchased. We have also shown that two novel compounds improve muscle health with age. Lastly, we have identified a transcription factor that is responsive to spaceflight. |
Exploitation Route | Our new spaceflight hardware is being used by others on future space biology missions and could be used as a template for designing next generation spaceflight hardware. Our results with muscular dystrophy can be used to understand how the current clinical treatment works and potentially to develop new treatments that do not have the same side effects. Our results with novel drugs that improve muscle health with age and muscular dystrophy can be clinically translated and/or used to understand why muscle declines in each of these conditions. Additionally, these novel compounds could be researched for use in neuromuscular disease. Our results on muscle decline in response to loss of nerve input or altered diet could be used as the basis for studying the effects of inactivity and diet on muscle health with age. Our novel devices for measuring worm strength and lifespan could be used for compound screening purposes. Lastly, our identification of a transcription factor that may control part of the response to spaceflight could be followed up with interventional and translational studies. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | We have used our findings on the new experiment cassettes for growing worms in space to establish a KT grant with a UK SME to build and fly these cassettes soley from the UK as a first step in commercialization of space biology experiments in the UK. |
First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Cultural,Economic |
Description | -omics data now a standard measure for NASA astronauts |
Geographic Reach | North America |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Astropharmacy added as a research topic for ESA |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | ESA payload consulation |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | I was requested to review the engineering specifications and suggest solutions for flying a space biology payload mission. My consultation has resulted in the payload agreeing a hardware design and proceeding to the pre-flight testing stage. My engagement has shortened the required definition period for this payload by 6-12 months. |
Description | NASA GeneLab Animal AWG lead |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Have agreed to chair NASA GeneLab's Animal Analysis Working Group. So far, discussions about the best use of NASA, NASA contractor, and University members as well as the nature of PGR/post-doc contributions are appropriately weighted and recognized have taken place. Additionally, using GeneLab data/work to influence future spaceflight experiments has also taken place. It remains to early too see the full impact of chairing this group upon NASA or ESA policy, JAXA policy is unlikely to be influenced. |
Description | NASA lunar commercialization |
Geographic Reach | North America |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Participated in a consultation with NASA and companies interested in commercial opportunities as they relate to the Moon. Companies were interested in both traditional government customer models and new models of commercialization. Discussion revolved around these topics and the realities of achieving success and economic return for the interested companies. The results of the consultation were that several companies changed plans and did not respond to the NASA commercial opportunities on/around the Moon call while several others were successful with their bids. The improved knowledge of the landscape was transferred to several companies and some of the successful bids are decreasing public spend vs. NASA having to produce these products. |
Description | NASA/Northrop Grumman consultation |
Geographic Reach | North America |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Participated in a NASA/Northrop Grumman consultation on processing late access payloads at the Wallops launch facility. Following on from this consultation improved laboratory facilities were agreed, particularly in relation to a local medical school which will now be directly linked to NASA Space Biology, and improved ability to deliver life sciences payloads to the ISS by NG has been achieved. This success is evidenced by a shift within the US payload integration community to favor Wallops over KSC for NASA funded payloads. |
Description | Space Biology roadmap co-chair |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Are mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy simply the reverse of muscle hypertrophy across age? A multi-omics approach |
Amount | £333,440 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/T026014/1 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 08/2022 |
Description | Astromedicine/Astropharmacy DTP Theme |
Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Astromedicine DTP (this is an internal allocation from EPSRC DTP funding- EP/R513283/1) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 08/2023 |
Description | Astromedicine/Astropharmacy DTP Theme 2nd intake |
Amount | £132,600 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Astromedicine DTP (this is an internal allocation from EPSRC DTP funding- EP/R513283/1) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 08/2024 |
Description | Defining the role of mitochondrial hydrogen sulfide in healthspan extension in C. elegans |
Amount | $448,040 (USD) |
Funding ID | 74014-LS |
Organisation | US Army Research Lab |
Sector | Public |
Country | United States |
Start | 05/2019 |
End | 04/2022 |
Description | ESA Lunar Biology Topical Team |
Amount | € 20,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Space Agency |
Sector | Public |
Country | France |
Start | 02/2021 |
End | 01/2024 |
Description | ESA Space -omics TopicalTem |
Amount | € 20,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Space Agency |
Sector | Public |
Country | France |
Start | 04/2020 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Examining the impact of inactivity and diet on muscle health with age in C. elegans |
Amount | £324,963 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/S002863/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 01/2023 |
Description | International Partnering Award |
Amount | £28,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/P025781/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2017 |
End | 11/2020 |
Description | NASA pump prime with Puerto Rico |
Amount | $100,000 (USD) |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United States |
Start | 11/2020 |
End | 05/2021 |
Description | New drugs for DMD studentship |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2018 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Pilot project: Whole Organism Metabolomics |
Amount | £1,960 (GBP) |
Funding ID | This is an internal award from EPSRC NanoPrime project (R025282) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2019 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | TREE Public Engagement with Research, Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund |
Amount | £3,401 (GBP) |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2020 |
End | 10/2020 |
Description | Topical Team |
Amount | € 20,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | Ageing Topical Team |
Organisation | European Space Agency |
Sector | Public |
Country | France |
Start | 10/2017 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | UK Space Agency call for National Experiments |
Amount | £440,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/S006338/1 |
Organisation | UK Space Agency |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 08/2021 |
Description | Urgent |
Amount | £59,160 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R005737/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2018 |
End | 01/2021 |
Title | Improved C. elegans model for DMD research |
Description | In evaluating DMD models for use in our spaceflight experiments we have discovered one newer DMD model more completely models the symptoms of DMD than others. Specifically, this model is weaker, has poorer mitochondrial health, has poorer excitation contraction coupling, and poorer response to anesthesia than existing models. Of note, the strength loss and anesthesia sensitivity are directly relevant to the human disease. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - non-mammalian in vivo |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The development of this model has lead us to discover a new drug for treating DMD. It has also led to new Japan/UK collaboration on potential mechanisms. The full impact is too early to judge as work remains ongoing. |
URL | http://dmm.biologists.org/content/early/2018/11/02/dmm.036137 |
Title | NemaFlex |
Description | We have developed a device for assessing worm muscle strength. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | We have used this device to discover one new drug that improves muscle strength in DMD worms and one new drug that improves muscle strength with age in worms. |
URL | https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2018/lc/c8lc00103k |
Title | NemaLife |
Description | We have developed a device for automated analysis of C. elegans lifespan. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | We have used the nemalife in combination with the nemaflex to discover a new drug that delays muscle force decline with age in worms. The device is not yet published but is available for purchase. |
Description | EPG for healthspan |
Organisation | HAN University of Applied Sciences |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have provided disease models and drugs for testing. |
Collaborator Contribution | The have tested EPG as a marker of healthspan in disease models and the effect of drugs on healthspan. |
Impact | To date we have generated data for eventual publication, possible follow on funding, and agreed further collaboration on an upcoming spaceflight mission. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | JAXA2021 |
Organisation | Tohoku University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We will contribute novel hypotheses for testing in a JAXA managed spaceflight experiment. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners will provide the spaceflight mission and coordinate its operation. |
Impact | Outcomes will come after the mission flies. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | MME2 collaboration |
Organisation | HAN University of Applied Sciences |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are continuing the collaboration with Japan via inviting them to participate in our next spaceflight mission, MME2. We are similarly continuing the previous MME collaboration with selected partners in MME2. We are also extending our collaborations to NASA, China, and the Netherlands. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners will provide novel hypothesis for us to test on MME2. NASA will provide RNAseq as a cost in kind contribution, UK will provide NASA samples as a cost in kind contribution. |
Impact | No outputs expected until the mission flies. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | MME2 collaboration |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | NASA Ames Exploration Center |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We are continuing the collaboration with Japan via inviting them to participate in our next spaceflight mission, MME2. We are similarly continuing the previous MME collaboration with selected partners in MME2. We are also extending our collaborations to NASA, China, and the Netherlands. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners will provide novel hypothesis for us to test on MME2. NASA will provide RNAseq as a cost in kind contribution, UK will provide NASA samples as a cost in kind contribution. |
Impact | No outputs expected until the mission flies. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | MME2 collaboration |
Organisation | Rutgers University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are continuing the collaboration with Japan via inviting them to participate in our next spaceflight mission, MME2. We are similarly continuing the previous MME collaboration with selected partners in MME2. We are also extending our collaborations to NASA, China, and the Netherlands. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners will provide novel hypothesis for us to test on MME2. NASA will provide RNAseq as a cost in kind contribution, UK will provide NASA samples as a cost in kind contribution. |
Impact | No outputs expected until the mission flies. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | MME2 collaboration |
Organisation | Southeast University China |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are continuing the collaboration with Japan via inviting them to participate in our next spaceflight mission, MME2. We are similarly continuing the previous MME collaboration with selected partners in MME2. We are also extending our collaborations to NASA, China, and the Netherlands. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners will provide novel hypothesis for us to test on MME2. NASA will provide RNAseq as a cost in kind contribution, UK will provide NASA samples as a cost in kind contribution. |
Impact | No outputs expected until the mission flies. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | MME2 collaboration |
Organisation | Texas Tech University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are continuing the collaboration with Japan via inviting them to participate in our next spaceflight mission, MME2. We are similarly continuing the previous MME collaboration with selected partners in MME2. We are also extending our collaborations to NASA, China, and the Netherlands. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners will provide novel hypothesis for us to test on MME2. NASA will provide RNAseq as a cost in kind contribution, UK will provide NASA samples as a cost in kind contribution. |
Impact | No outputs expected until the mission flies. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | MME2 collaboration |
Organisation | Tohoku University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are continuing the collaboration with Japan via inviting them to participate in our next spaceflight mission, MME2. We are similarly continuing the previous MME collaboration with selected partners in MME2. We are also extending our collaborations to NASA, China, and the Netherlands. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners will provide novel hypothesis for us to test on MME2. NASA will provide RNAseq as a cost in kind contribution, UK will provide NASA samples as a cost in kind contribution. |
Impact | No outputs expected until the mission flies. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | MME2 collaboration |
Organisation | Yonsei University |
Country | Korea, Republic of |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are continuing the collaboration with Japan via inviting them to participate in our next spaceflight mission, MME2. We are similarly continuing the previous MME collaboration with selected partners in MME2. We are also extending our collaborations to NASA, China, and the Netherlands. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners will provide novel hypothesis for us to test on MME2. NASA will provide RNAseq as a cost in kind contribution, UK will provide NASA samples as a cost in kind contribution. |
Impact | No outputs expected until the mission flies. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Molecular Muscle Experiment |
Organisation | Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far we have provided administrative support and validation testing for all collaborators in the ESA flight experiment. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far, JAXA has provided culture bags as an in kind contribution and Texas Tech has provided growth medium as an in kind contribution. |
Impact | This partnership has lead to follow on funding for another collaborative project via the UK Space Agency and participation in a future JAXA rung spaceflight. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Molecular Muscle Experiment |
Organisation | Rutgers University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far we have provided administrative support and validation testing for all collaborators in the ESA flight experiment. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far, JAXA has provided culture bags as an in kind contribution and Texas Tech has provided growth medium as an in kind contribution. |
Impact | This partnership has lead to follow on funding for another collaborative project via the UK Space Agency and participation in a future JAXA rung spaceflight. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Molecular Muscle Experiment |
Organisation | Texas Tech University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far we have provided administrative support and validation testing for all collaborators in the ESA flight experiment. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far, JAXA has provided culture bags as an in kind contribution and Texas Tech has provided growth medium as an in kind contribution. |
Impact | This partnership has lead to follow on funding for another collaborative project via the UK Space Agency and participation in a future JAXA rung spaceflight. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Molecular Muscle Experiment |
Organisation | Tohoku University |
Department | Life Sciences Tohoku |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far we have provided administrative support and validation testing for all collaborators in the ESA flight experiment. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far, JAXA has provided culture bags as an in kind contribution and Texas Tech has provided growth medium as an in kind contribution. |
Impact | This partnership has lead to follow on funding for another collaborative project via the UK Space Agency and participation in a future JAXA rung spaceflight. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Molecular Muscle Experiment |
Organisation | University of Crete |
Country | Greece |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far we have provided administrative support and validation testing for all collaborators in the ESA flight experiment. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partnership is at early stages. So far, JAXA has provided culture bags as an in kind contribution and Texas Tech has provided growth medium as an in kind contribution. |
Impact | This partnership has lead to follow on funding for another collaborative project via the UK Space Agency and participation in a future JAXA rung spaceflight. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | New compounds for muscle health |
Organisation | University of Exeter |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have tested several novel compounds for their effects on improving muscle health with age and in mutants related to gene expression changes during spaceflight. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators have provided us with novel compounds. |
Impact | So far we have identified 2 compounds which improve muscle health with age and with muscular dystrophy. We have been funded by the US Army to carry on the ageing work and by the University of Nottingham to carry on the MD work. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | South Korean participation in MME |
Organisation | Yonsei University |
Country | Korea, Republic of |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have processed the paperwork for a South Korean (SK) investigator to join our ESA selected spaceflight experiment. We have also outlined the experimental plan for SK participation. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our Japanese partners introduced us to an investigator from South Korean and have facilitated communication with regards to operational logistics and experiment selection for the SK participant. Our new SK collaborator has done some ground testing to validate his proposed experiment will work. |
Impact | This collaboration is still early stage, the experiment is currently set for launch in 2018. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Company Name | NEMALIFE INC. |
Description | NemaLife markets a device for automated analysis of C. elegans lifespan. |
Year Established | 2014 |
Impact | Nemalife built its first functional device in 2018 and sold its first two devices in 2019. It remains too early to fully evaluate the impacts. |
Description | A level students |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Hosted 3 A level students on two day watch what work we do in the lab visits. Two reported they continued to desire a career in medicine, one reported his continued desire for a career in aerospace engineering. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | AFAO Conference Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We presented our C. elegans spaceflight outreach efforts at the Association For Academic Outreach conference 2019. The main objectives were too; 1) outline our initial plans for outreach and, 2) evidence our actual outreach outputs. This presentation led to establishing contacts with members of the audience for future outreach-related activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | American Society for Gravitational and Space Research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We attended the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research's "schools day" which was attended by roughly 250 American School children (primary and secondary schools) as well as their teachers and space outreach groups from the US. We presented our outreach activities and interacted with the student groups who presented their work orally and in poster format. Feedback was generally good with most students reporting they felt a sense of accomplishment in presenting their flight and/or ground based work to professional spaceflight researchers and most students expressed a desire to continue with STEM and/or spaceflight related studies at University and/or with summer placements at NASA. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | BBC Breakfast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BBC Breakfast filmed the pre-flight Experiment Verification Test and broadcast interviews with some video from the test explaining the purpose of the experiment and why this is a first for the UK. Follow on media requests occurred. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Bristol Radio Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave a local interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Bristol Television |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Johnny L'Anson show |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Described the purpose and operations of the ESA flight experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Lancs |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Responded to an interview request with BBC Radio Lancashire. Described the goals of the ESA experiment, how it is operated, and why the research is important. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Northwest Tonight Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave a local interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Nottingham Radio Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave a local interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Radio 5 Live |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Radio interview on the ESA experiment and active growth of the UK Space Industry. Highlighted the UK's investment in ESA and new business/science opportunities for the UK. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Radio 5 Live |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participated in a live interview with BBC Radio 5 Live about the ESA experiment. A discussion on the ethics of research on animals and worms occurred. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Radio Bristol |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Described the purpose and operations of the ESA experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Radio Nottingham |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Described the purpose of the ESA experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Radio Scotland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Explained the purpose and operation of the ESA experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Radio Wales |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Described the purpose and operations of the ESA experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Southwest Spotlight Feature |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Assisted BBC Southwest in producing a feature on the MM experiment and how it fits into the bigger picture of improving muscle health on Earth. This included interviews and footage of worms, experiments, facilities, and human muscle studies. The release of the feature was timed to correspond with launch. This lead to several direct contacts from the public, other media outlets, and local schools. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Wiltshre Radio |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC Word Service Radio Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview for BBC world service. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC breakfast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Coordinated a UK Space Agency appearance for an interview on BBC Breakfast, provided up to date information from launch site prior to going on air. Several follow up contacts from the schools, the general public, scientists, and industry expressed great pleasure in seeing the coverage of the experiment on BBC Breakfast and stated they felt personally involved as the result of the media coverage. Most commonly requested was more tweets as things progressed. This has changed our engagement strategy going forward and we will adopt more of BBSRC's social engagement methods in the future as they seemed very successful based upon feedback at all levels. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC new 2 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-46439428 |
Description | BBC news |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview and coordinated updates from launch site with the UK Space Agency and BBSRC for use in coordinated BBC coverage. Feedback from this particular story was that people (general public and scientists) felt personally involved with the experiment due to the ability to follow the difficulties of launch slip. A greater appreciation of the complexities of launch operations were reported. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-46438759 |
Description | BBC newsround |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We provided video and interviews for use in preparing a BBC story on our work, this ran on CBBC. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/45488234 |
Description | BBC radio news interview for space week |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview with BBC radio Devon to celebrate space week. Discussed the MME, impacts of spaceflight on the body, the ISS, ways to the moon and influencing and engaging future generations to be aware of spaceflight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | BBSRC Business winter 2017 newsletter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Provided graphics for a story highlighting the BBSRC funding of space biology experiments. Coverage led to increased interest in a coordinated press/media/engagement plan as we moved forward to launch. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://bbsrc.ukri.org/documents/bbsrc-business-winter-2017-pdf/ |
Description | BBSRC Business winter 2018 newsletter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Provided graphics and interviews for BBSRC business winter news letter with a full update on successful launch. BBSRC reported being very happy with the piece and the overall campaign, ESA space biology reported being very happy that BBSRC felt engaged and was happy with the engagement campaign. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://bbsrc.ukri.org/documents/bbsrc-business-winter-2018-pdf/ |
Description | BBSRC DTP careers day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | We participated in a careers day for BBSRC funded DTP PhD students. A formal presentation of a career path of our post-doc was given along with informal discussions about what it was like to be a post-doc. Post event feeback was that is was positive to speak with a former DTP student and that it was helpful to hear from a current post-doc how life is. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBSRC press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Coordinated a press release for launch of the MM experiment with BBSRC. BBSRC reported being very pleased with the overall press coverage/media interaction and engagement from the Science minister. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://bbsrc.ukri.org/news/health/2018/181203-pr-launch-first-uk-led-experiment-to-international-sp... |
Description | BBSRC press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BBSRC issued a coordinated press release with UKRI about the ESA experiment and our outreach activites. The press release links to the outreach web-site. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://bbsrc.ukri.org/news/health/2018/180910-pr-worms-in-space/ |
Description | BBSRC twitter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Coordinated social media tweets on the MM experiment with BBSRC. An example of a tweet is given below. Feedback from the general public, schools, and scientists was that these tweets really made them feel personally engaged in the experiment and put more requests for updates from launch upon us. Our decision to have a dedicated social media/media manager on site for launch proved valuable as did coordination with BBSRC media as we were able to get things out at appropriate UK local times despite the time difference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://twitter.com/bbsrc/status/1068444611138527232?lang=en-gb |
Description | BBSRC website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BBSRC spotlighted the ESA experiment via a focused feature webpage. This was intended to inform the public about the upcoming experiment and spark student interest at the start of the school year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://bbsrc.ukri.org/news/features/worms-in-space-the-molecular-muscle-experiment/ |
Description | BBSRC winter news letter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Assisted BBSRC with a spotlight on worms in space in the 2017 winter BBSRC Business publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Big Bang East Midlands |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We participated in the Big Bang East Midlands outreach event. Our activity involved allowing students to observe wild-type and mutant C. elegans and discuss our spaceflight experiment. 49 school participated with approximately 2500 total attendance. General feedback was positive, we agreed to do future regional events, and we received requests for follow up information and exploration of possible school visits. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Big Bang East Midlands |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Attended Big Bang East Midlands and interacted with roughly 2000 people, mostly primary and secondary school students. Activities included looking at normal and mutant worms, handling spaceflight hardware, and talking about science and spaceflight. Students and teachers were both enthusiastic with requests for school visits and expressions of interest in pursuing careers in science and engineering. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Big Bang South West |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The Big Bang Fair SW 2019 saw nearly 6000 visitors through the doors: 84 secondary schools, 39 primary schools and about 400 home educated children with their parents/carers from the across the south west region. Activities included looking at C. elegans and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Big Bang South West |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Participated in the Big Bang South West. Roughly 1900 10-19 year olds attended. Activities included looking at C. elegans and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. Post event follow up with participating schools indicated a high level of interest from the participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Big Bang South West |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We conducted an outreach activity at the Big Bang South West event. This consisted of allowing students to observe normal and mutant C. elegans and discuss our spaceflight experiment. 42 school participated with 1917 students, total audience was 2020. General feedback was positive and it was agreed to engage in further regional events. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Big Bang University West England (UWE) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Activities included looking at C. elegans and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. Post event follow up with participating schools indicated a high level of interest from the participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Biocair |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Provided graphics and interview for Biocair to run a web news story promoting their logistics as reliable for use with spaceflight samples. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.biocair.com/latest/news/biocair-helps-send-worms-into-space |
Description | Bluecoat Academy Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Activities included looking at C. elegans and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. Post event follow up with participating schools indicated a high level of interest from the participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | CBS (USA) interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview to CBS (a US national broadcast network) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Careers Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | We were invited to present the career path of one of our researchers to current undergraduate students from a different department in our University. 60 students attended. Feedback was generally good, students expressed interest in different careers than previously considered and two have followed up for additional information. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Catalyst |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We helped a national stem magazine run a story on our spaceflight experiment. We have received subsequent requests for information/visits from the article. Article ran in issue 34. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.stem.org.uk/catalyst |
Description | Christow Preschool |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We visited Christow Preschool (South West, UK) and engaged with the children and teachers. After an introduction to the molecular muscle experiment, preschoolers observed normal and mutant C. elegans under the microscope. Preliminary plans to do the engagement event for future cohorts were made. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Creating a Life on Mars |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Roughly 60-80 secondary school students and their teachers attended the 'Creating a Life on Mars' event (4wardfutures). The day consisted of talking about career paths into the space sector, presenting the molecular muscle experiment, discussing astronaut selection, and interacting with the students to help them plan and build a landscape of Mars. Discussions occurred between students, scientists, engineers, and programme managers. Several students expressed interest in pursuing STEM degrees at University and several students expressed thanks for the our help during the event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.calom.space/life-on-mars |
Description | Daily Telegraph |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Devon Local News |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participated in a BBC solicited locally broadcast news story on the ESA spaceflight experiment and molecular research into understanding changes in human muscle. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Devon Local Radio |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Solicited to do a radio interview about upcoming ESA flight and research into molecular mechanisms regulating muscle. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | ESA PIs mtg |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We presented out outreach activities for the MME spaceflight mission to ESA investigators so that they could use our materials and/or critique or copy our outreach approach. Several individuals expressed positive views of out outreach activities and expressed a desire that more ESA investigators would take an active role in outreach (including policy makers). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | ESA Working Group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I was invited to co-chair a European Space Agency working group on Ageing and Space. This group is tasked with finding areas of common interest between ESA stakeholders (investigators, governments, and contractors) and the ageing research community (researchers and industry) in order to explore improved impact activities for ESA particularly with respect to industry. The group started in Dec-2016 and will meet quarterly. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
Description | ESA twitter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Coordinated social media coverage of the MM experiment with the ESA spaceflight twitter stream. (17-Dec tweet) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight |
Description | ESA website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Provided images and quotes for a coordinated ESA webpage on the MME experiment pre-launch. Media follow up requests were received and several space agency employees (ESA, NASA) commented on how nice/good the page was as did several professional scientists. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Research/Worms_in_space_to_understa... |
Description | Exeter press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Exeter released a coordinated press release to correspond with UKRI release. This was followed up with responding to requests for interviews. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_681017_en.html |
Description | Florida Today |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave two interviews and assisted in providing artwork and context for a story to run in Florida Today which, like many space stories, subsequently picked up by US National outlets. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://eu.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2018/11/30/heres-why-spacexs-next-launch-florid... |
Description | GeneLab paper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Issued a press release about original research associated with NASA GeneLab work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=56628 |
Description | GeneLab paper bundle press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Issued a press release and coordinated press coverage for a bundle of >20 spaceflight papers published by Cell press as the result of NASA GeneLab work. Subsequent coverage included CNN, Forbes, National Geographic, The Scientist, Popular Scientific, Scientific American and more. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/mitochondria-cell-science |
Description | Grange Primary |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We participated in a primary school visit and spoke with roughly 60 yr 5 students and their teachers. A formal presentation on why we do biology experiments in space was followed by interactive session handling spaceflight hardware, and two different methods of culturing and viewing C. elegans. Several students expressed that they did not know what an engineer was and were now interested in learning more. Several others expressed a reaffirmed interest in science. Plans for follow on activities with the school were made. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Heart Radio Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview for heart radio. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | High School day at ASGSR |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Roughly 80 secondary school students and their teachers and parents attended the schools day at the American Society of Gravitational and Space Research meeting. The day consisted of presenting data on experiments the students conducted, presenting data on experiments scientists conducted, showing students spaceflight hardware, and one on one discussions between students and scientists, engineers, and programme managers. Several students expressed interest in pursuing STEM degrees at University and several students expressed thanks for being given personal contacts with regards to their research either at engineering or science department in the US. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Huawei + Pint of Science docu-series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I filmed 13 3-5 minutes videos on my research profile as part of a collaboration with Huawei and Pint of Science. My theme was 'Worms in space for health on earth', and the videos covered the following; why muscle is an important organ, what happens to the body in space, why worms are a good model for research, what worms can teach us about health on earth, what the Molecular Muscle Experiment was and how it was conducted, what the Molecular Muscle Experiment 2 is, how we can translate findings in worms into humans, clinical trials in humans and how they are conducted, how are human muscle samples analysed, maths for muscle health, how to get involved in space science. These videos are currently being edited prior to release in the Chinese and international market (released via Huawei's media channels including YouTube and TikTok) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | ISS twitter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Coordinated a tweet about the MM experiment from the ISS twitter account (17-Dec tweet). ISS crew reported being excited about our experiment and the ESA team supporting our experiment was thrilled to see the experiment being recognized by the crew. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://twitter.com/ISS_Research |
Description | Indianapolis Star |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Institution of Engineering & Technology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2018/12/space-worms-take-off-for-uk-s-first-iss-experiment... |
Description | International worm meeting workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We arranged a workshop for worm researchers at the International C. elegans meeting to discuss the use of C. elegans for muscle physiology research. Presentations included C. elegans as a model for muscle alterations in spaceflight, novel methods for assessing C. elegans muscle function, C. elegans exercise protocols, and translating findings from worms into healthy human volunteer based studies. An hour was devoted to discussion which largely focused on C. elegans exercise and how similar/different C. elegans muscle energetics are from human energetics and thus how good a model for human exercise it may or may not be. Two British PIs, one working oversees, and one US PI followed up with further discussion about future studies, in two cases specifcally on worm/human translation. A company also followed up about various aspects of the workshop including further refining C. elegans studies for relevance to human health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://conferences.genetics-gsa.org/Celegans/2019/workshops |
Description | Inverse |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for online print piece about the ESA experiment purpose and operations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.inverse.com/article/48867-molecular-muscle-experiment-worms |
Description | Inverse interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Agreed to an interview on our micro-16 experiment from Inverse, who then ran a story. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.inverse.com/science/nasa-worms-international-space-station |
Description | Lab News |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview and helped a journalist develop a story about life on Mars. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.labnews.co.uk/features/terraforming-mars-giant-leap-far-17-06-2019/ |
Description | Lab visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Hosted a secondary school student interested in the MM experiment and writing a report on it. The student saw worms, spaceflight hardware, sat in on an UK Space Agency meeting, and discussed career pathways. The student reported that her interest in pursuing medicine was reinforced by the visit. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Lancs press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The University of Lancaster issued a coordinated press release with UKRI at the start of the school year in order to garner more local media coverage of the ESA experiment and our outreach activities. Follow on local coverage occurred. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/worms-in-space-the-molecular-muscle-experiments |
Description | Lancs press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Coordinated a press release with the University of Lancaster. This led to follow up media interest, direct contact from the public and other scientists. The University reported being very pleased with the media exposure they received. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/successful-launch-of-first-uk-led-experiment-to-the-international-s... |
Description | Love Sport Radio |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Solicited to participate in an interview about the biological effects of spaceflight on the human body and what the UK is doing to research this. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | MME website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We established a web-site about the ESA experiment. The site includes activities for children and activity packs so that schools can replicate our outreach activities themselves. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.mme-spaceworms.com/ |
Description | MSN Malaysia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | MSN New Zealand |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | NASA KSC display |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Provided graphics and descriptions of the MM experiment for use on the NASA KSC video loop on the experiments being prepared for the current launch. NASA and contractors reported being particularly interested in the payload and visited our lab in person. NASA space biology in particular was curious how we managed to coordinate so many samples, so many countries, and how the whole experiment was possible given the complexities of it still being a single PI led experiment. NASA space biology has agreed to further explore our collaborative model and we have agree to support them in making such applications to NASA, if they wish. We also agreed to test working with GeneLab on a future flight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | NASA press conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Participated in a NASA press conference in advance of launching the MM experiment. This resulted in several stories being run as well as follow up interviews which lead to international media coverage, notably via the Associated Press. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | NASA website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Established a NASA hosted web-page documenting the ESA experiment for public engagement and historical archiving purposes. The page links to our public outreach page |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2615.html |
Description | NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MEDIA MUSEUM |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We participated in a schools visit day to the National Science and Media Museum as part of the "National" tour of Tim Peake's Soyuz return capsule, Tim Peake was in attendance. 240 KS3 students participated. Our activities included looking at normal and mutant worms, handling spaceflight hardware, discussing our spaceflight experiment, and discussing the use of worms as a model system in biology. General feedback was good with several students expressing an interest in pursuing space studies/careers. Our impression was that Tim Peake was a greater influence on the reported careers interest, although a handful of students did report increased interest in STEM whilst at our exhibit (particularly engineering). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/what-was-on/soyuz-tma-19m-tim-peakes-spacecraft |
Description | National Science and Media Museum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We participated in a schools visit day to the National Science and Media Museum as part of the "National" tour of Tim Peake's Soyuz return capsule. 240 KS3 students participated. Our activities included looking at normal and mutant worms, handling spaceflight hardware, discussing our spaceflight experiment, and discussing the use of worms as a model system in biology. General feedback was good with several students expressing an interest in pursuing space biology studies/careers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/what-was-on/soyuz-tma-19m-tim-peakes-spacecraft |
Description | Newsweek |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Approached by Newsweek for comment/background on a story they were going to run on changes to the human body in space. Comments and quotes provided. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.newsweek.com/what-happens-human-body-space-893055 |
Description | Nottingham Explorers Fair |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | This was an interactive science fair where we provided an activity whereby secondary school students could learn about C. elegans, spaceflight, and our spaceflight experiment as well as physically interact with C. elegans and spaceflight hardware. 50 students from each of 5 schools (250 students) attended the event. The Schools report the students had a positive experience but no specific measurable impacts have been made. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Nottingham Explorers Fair, public day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was an interactive science open day where we provided an activity whereby the general public students could learn about C. elegans, spaceflight, and our spaceflight experiment as well as physically interact with C. elegans and spaceflight hardware. Roughly 500 individuals attended our stand. No specific impacts were measured beyond interests expressed by those who attended the event. One attendee runs a public engagement business and a follow up meeting regarding future events was arranged. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Nottingham Festival of Science & Curiosity - public day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was a public science day at a national museum. Roughly 250 members of the general public attended. Activities included looking at normal and mutant worms, handling spaceflight hardware, discussions of worms as a model for biology, and discussions of why we study things in space. Overall feedback was good, two teachers have been in touch about follow up activities for use in their classrooms. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Nottingham Festival of Science & Curiosity- teacher day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | This was a day for local government and schools to discuss real science in school. Roughly 50 people attended including the Lord Mayor, several local teachers, and those engaged in bring science activities into schools. Several schools are interested in follow on activities, a discussion was had about marrying up student lead radiation dosimetry data with mutational data on a future spaceflight mission and the Mayor has decided to look into student led school based pollution monitoring as a way of delivering real science in the classroom with a real impact in local city planning. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Nottingham Potential |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We participated in the Nottingham Summer Potential school which involves residential visits to the University from "at risk" KS4 students. 40 students participated. In addition to talking about careers in Science and general physiology we hosted the students in our labs to observe how we study human muscle, culture cells, study worms, and use mass spectrometry. Additionally we discussed our upcoming spaceflight experiment. General feedback was good, 4 students reported they had increased interest in attending University and one student expressed increased desire to study physics following the visit. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Nottingham press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The University of Nottingham released a coordinated press release with UKRI with the intent of making regional schools aware of our outreach activities and web-site as well as the ESA experiment itself. This was followed up with the University spotlighting the work on the front webpage of the University and local media coverage. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2018/september/worms-in-space-hold-key-to-astronauts... |
Description | Nottingham wonder |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We allowed the public to observe normal and mutant worms and to interact with spaceflight hardware. Roughly 400 people engaged in the activities. Several conversations were had around the value of the work, how it physically takes place, and what it is like to be a scientist. The main outcome was that those we spoke with frequently reported thinking differently about science and/or spaceflight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Nuffield placements |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Hosted 4 local pre-University students each on a 4-6 week research project placement. Two felt that their desire to study medicine at University was re-affirmed, one felt his desire to study physics was re-affirmed, and one reported that she now wished to purse a research based career rather than a strictly clinical one. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Pint of Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We presented our C. elegans spaceflight experiment at the Pint of Science 2019 event in Exeter (UK). The main objectives were too; 1) outline spaceflight-induced adaptations i.e. muscle decline, 2) why C. elegans are used for research, 3) the aims of our molecular muscle experiment and how it was conducted and 4) how spaceflight research can help health on Earth i.e. relevance to ageing research. This presentation led to members of the general public asking relevant and thought provoking questions. Positive feedback was verbally received from many members of the audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/keep-it-together-bones-and-muscles |
Description | Placement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Host a year 12 student on a week long placement which included project and policy meetings with NASA and other researchers. Student reported the placement was helpful in thinking about future careers and reaffirms an interest in a higher STEM degree. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Present worms in space outreach work |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We presented out C. elegans spaceflight outreach efforts to the C. elegans research community. The main objective was in engaging further use of the worm for outreach activities. The outreach materials have now been published in a spaceflight journal enabling full use by this community as well as the spaceflight community. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | President's Lecture 2019, The Physiological Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | ~ 300 adults and children attended The Presidents Lecture at the Royal Institution, run by The Physiological Society. This event included a talk by an astronaut (Jim Pawelczyk), followed by 2.5 hours of hands-on activities to inspire children about space and physiology. We were one of the chosen hands-on activities, which included looking at healthy and "space" C. elegans, handling hardware that has been to space and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.physoc.org/events/presidents-lecture-2019/ |
Description | Press release Micro-16 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Issued a press release about our micro-16 experiment. This resulted in wide media coverage including AP, Reuters, CNN, CBS, and Forbes amongst others. NASA operations and astronauts in particular requested more information and more opportunity to conduct further engagement activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/tiny-worms-flex-their-muscles-for-astronaut-health |
Description | Primary School Visit- Walter Evans |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We visited a primary school where we gave a talk about how and why to do a biology experiment in space and had hands on activities including handling spaceflight harware, examining normal and mutant worms, assessing hand grip strength, and assessing blood pressure. The audience was comprised of approximately 100 year 5 and year 6 students, their teachers, and other staff from the school. Feedback from the students and staff was that they enjoyed the event and were very interested in learning more about our next space mission. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Primary School visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 2 classes from a primary school visited our labs and observed how we study human muscle, culture cells, and use C. elegans for studying muscle. We also discussed our upcoming spaceflight experiment. The school reported that the students enjoyed the visit and that several expressed a new interest in life sciences. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Public talk- British Science Association |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave a public talk on the ESA experiment and more generally about how one does an experiment in space. Attendees reported the talk was interested and engaged in several discussions sparked by the talk. Notably one attendee is interested in pursuing a career in aerospace medicine, so appropriate advice and direction to various contacts was given along with an agreement that he can follow up his interests with us in the future. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | RSB biology week Parliamentary reception |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | We gave parliamentarians and scientists the opportunity to observe wild-type and mutant C. elegans, handle spaceflight hardware, discuss space biology, and discuss UK Space Agency and European Space Agency agendas. Particular interest was expressed in the economic opportunities for the UK post-brexit given that ESA is an independent treaty organization, the UK Space Agency's launch initiative, and the UK's goal of being a one stop shop for satellite operations. One lord and one MP expressed a change of thought on the opportunities for the UK and reported that our conversations had been both educational and helpful. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.rsb.org.uk/news/14-news/2058-biology-week-2018-mps-member-organisations-and-members-of-t... |
Description | Radio 4's Today Programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview on Radio 4. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Radio Lancashire Inteview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave a local interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Respond to Scientific American request |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Asked to comment on other astrobiology experiments for an article for the general public. No direct quotes are used but the tag line "New findings give some weight to the idea that life was blasted here from another planet" is more or less what I confirmed to/for them. The publication should fascinate the public and inspire STEM uptake via they was worms are described as cooler than fighter pilots. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tiny-worms-survive-forces-400-000-times-stronger-than-gra... |
Description | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Provided an interview and support in developing a story on microgravity research for the Royal Society of Chemistry's newsletter. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/science-in-microgravity/3009826.article |
Description | School visit (Stoke Hill Primary) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We visited Stoke Hill Primary School (Exeter) and engaged with 3 separate primary school classes, totalling 90 school children. This consisted of allowing students to observe normal and mutant C. elegans and discussed our spaceflight experiment. General feedback was very positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | School visit - Constructing a Life on Mars (CaLoM) workshop at Middlewich High School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 30 pupils attended a one day workshop around constructing a life on Mars. The idea of this workshop is to make secondary school children aware of the STEM challenges of a manned mission to Mars, and how we may overcome these challenges. Thus, inspiring the next generation of those that take up careers in STEM. The workshop we delivered focused on Physiological challenges of Mars and students had to select certain medical/physiological/psychological attributes of an ideal crew.In the afternoon, students did a basic dietary analysis for an astronaut and constructed a one week meal plan for an astronaut on Mars using freeze-dried food. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.calom.space |
Description | School visit to Archway STEM Festival 2019 (Bluecoat) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Around 70 students and parents attended the STEM festival that provides free STEM-based activities for school children aged 7-12 years old. We presented our Worms in Space activity looking at worms 'before' and 'after' spaceflight by comparing wild-type and mutant worms. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | School visit to Preesall Fleetwood's Charity School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Gaffney attended the primary school to give an overview of space physiology and the molecular muscle experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Schools day at launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Provided an open day at NASA KSC for three primary school children (one UK, two US). The day consisted of meeting UK and Japanese team members, seeing the spaceflight hardware, touring KSC, interacting with the displays at the KSC visitor centre, and meeting an NASA astronaut. Students were also given MME t-shirts. The MME team members (post-docs, other PIs, and other PI labs) also toured KSC and the visitor centre. The students reported that the day was "very cool", that space was very cool, and that they might like to be astronauts when they grow up but maybe not scientists. The student's family's reported that the day was much more impressive and exciting than they had anticipated/imagined. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Science Comp 1 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Spoke with a primary school student who was presenting on science he liked as part of a local competition and gave him a video clip for use in his presentation. The class reported liking his presentation and he won the contest. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Science comp 3 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Spoke with a primary school student about the MM experiment so that she could present on it to her class. Her class reported that space biology sounded really exciting and maybe not as dull as they thought science was. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Seminar for Centre for Ageing Research (C4AR) at Lancaster University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 20 people attended a seminar that I delivered on the Molecular Muscle Experiment for the Centre for Ageing Research (C4AR) at Lancaster university. This activity engaged other academics at the institution, postgraduate students and invited members of the public involved in our Continual Learners Group. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Sharnbrook Academy School Talks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We presented our C. elegans spaceflight experiment to Sharnbrook Academy School (Secondary school), reaching 690 students across years 7-12. The main objective was to inspire school children to be excited about STEM, and particularly spaceflight sciences. Feedback following the talks from teachers and students was very positive, with multiple teachers asking us to visit again. Multiple children reported feeling 'inspired' by the talks and some asked about potential routes into spaceflight science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Sidmouth Science Festival 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Attended Sidmouth Science Festival 2019 and interacted with members of the general public. Activities included looking at normal and mutant worms, observing materials (i.e. worm bags) that have been returned from space and talking about science and spaceflight. The general public were enthusiastic and very engaged with the activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.sidmouthsciencefestival.org/festival |
Description | Space Day 2019 (British interplanetary society) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Did an interactive display of normal and simulated spaceflight worms and discussed how we do space biology with the public at an event hosted by the British Interplanetary Society. Audience reported they were not fully aware of the UK space agency or what went into a space biology experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Space physiology animation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Scientific advisor and narrator of The Physiological Society animation, "what happens to our body in space?", which is available on YouTube. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7rDrAKRqjo |
Description | Space yoga |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Helped guerilla science produce a space yoga podcast on muscle and bone in space. This particular podcast is aimed at engaging individuals who may not normally engage with science via working science into yoga sessions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
URL | http://guerillascience.org/event/space-yoga-on-youtube/ |
Description | Student Comp 2 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Spoke with a primary school student about the MM experiment, she presented on it at her school. Her class reported enjoying the presentation and thought science in space was cool. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Student Experiment Spaceflight Programme (SSEP) proposal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Gave advice to 9th and 10th grade students at Chandler Park Academy High School, in Harper Woods, MI (US) on research question/s and experimental design for their SSEP proposal for the SSEP Mission 14 to the International Space Station. This proposal was submitted on 1/11/19. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://ssep.ncesse.org |
Description | Student placement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Hosted an A level student from London. Student participated in human subjects research as well as worm work and biochemistry. Student reported that she felt capable of pursuing a career in science or medicine after having visited as the medical school didn't seem as scary as initially viewed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Student placement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Hosted an undergraduate student from Nottingham. Student participated in human subjects research as well as worm work and biochemistry. Student signed up for a masters in genetics at a European University as a result of the placement. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Student placement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Hosted an undergraduate from Durham. The student participated in pre-flight work for our next space mission. He reported that he remained interested in persuing a career in astrobiology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Student placement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Hosted an A level student from Derby. Student participated in human subjects research as well as worm work and biochemistry. Student felt comfortable applying for a place in medicine following the visit. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Student placement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Hosted an undergraduate student from Nottingham. Student participated in human subjects research as well as worm work and biochemistry. Student reported he was now interested in exploring sports and exercise science in addition to biochemistry as a career path. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Student placement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Hosted an undergraduate student from Nottingham. Student participated in human subjects research as well as worm work and biochemistry. Student reported continuing to be interested in a career in biochemistry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | The Conversation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Approached by The Conversation to help write a story about a recent, false, press announcement of major changes to an astronaut's DNA following spaceflight. Follow up from the article (personal communications) was that it was helpful to understand why/how the initial false press reports were generated. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/does-your-dna-really-change-in-space-93762 |
Description | The Conversation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Article describing the MM experiment was published in the Conversation. This was read by more that 3,500 people and resulted in several media follow up requests. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/worms-in-space-why-we-are-launching-them-107906 |
Description | The Conversation, Maylasia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Approached by The Conversation's Maylasian site to authorize translation of our English language web article to Maylasian. Not aware of any further impacts beyond increased readership. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/benarkah-dna-berubah-ketika-kita-berada-di-angkasa-luar-94505 |
Description | The Physiological Society Impact Report |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Wrote a small piece for The Physiological Societie's Impact Report, reflecting on our "Worms in Space" activity at the Presidents Lecture. No impacts know at this stage. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | The Times |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Discussed commercialization of the International Space Station with reporter from The Times in order to help him prepare a story on the topic. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/to-boldly-sell-where-no-one-has-before-est-e-lauder-sends-beauty-... |
Description | The biologist |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Wrote a piece about UK space biology and space biology opportunities for UK biologists for the Royal Society of Biology's newsletter. No impacts know at this stage. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist/158-biologist/features/2192-extraterrestrial-life-science |
Description | |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A twitter account was set up and used to tweet about outreach and mission activities. The general public, MPs, charitable donors, PGR and undergradutes, study participants and patient groups, industry and third sector organizations, and the media engaged with our twitter feed often following up with retweets or, more commonly, direct e-mails to the team. The platform worked far better than the website for engaging via up-dates from the launch site and coordinating media coverage. ESA and BBSRC in particular commented on their pleasure with the regularity of updates from the launch site. ESA also expressed gratitude at our efforts and a desire that future ESA missions would engage with the public via twitter as we have. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
URL | https://twitter.com/worms_space |
Description | UK Space Agency press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Coordinated a press release with the UK Space Agency. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-crew-and-uk-experiment-head-to-the-international-space-statio... |
Description | UK Space Agency press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Coordinated a press release with the UK Space Agency in advance of BBC Breakfast airing a piece on our experiment. The Science Minister seemed particularly engaged and we provided him a briefing prior to a planned appearance on BBC Breakfast to coincide with the piece on the experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/worms-in-space-the-molecular-muscle-experiment |
Description | UK Space Agency twitter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Coordinated tweets about the MM experiment with the UK Space Agency twitter feed. An example tweet showing the high level of engagement with the Science Minister is given below. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://twitter.com/spacegovuk/status/1039396925223530498 |
Description | UK Space Agency video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The UK Space Agency produced a short you tube video describing the ESA experiment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFD6Nz0tQpQ |
Description | UK gov press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | UKRI released a consolidated press release to announce the upcoming ESA experiment to coincide with the start of the school year. The development of the release captured the interest of the Science Minister and he participated in the release and shaping follow on media engagement. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/worms-in-space-the-molecular-muscle-experiment |
Description | USA Today |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | University of Nottingham School of Medicine Newsletter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We produced a feature piece on the MM Experiment and the broader fit in the University's muscle research. Following on from this piece decisions to explore forming a space research priority group within the University and pursuing STFC KT funding have been taken. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | University of Nottingham press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | The university of Nottingham issued a coordinated press release in advance of experiment launch. Follow up requests were made by the media. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2018/december/blast-off-for-first-uk-led-experiment-... |
Description | Ventura County Star |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Versus Arthritis |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
Results and Impact | Provided graphics and text for a versus arthritis research news story on the MM experiment on their website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/news/microscopic-worms-could-hold-the-key-to-beating-arthritis/ |
Description | We the Curious (Bristol museum) public day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We participated in an event day for the public where individuals could observe and interact with normal and mutant worms and spaceflight hardware. Use of worms for research, what it is like to be a scientist, and general topics around spaceflight were discussed. The day included free-to-enter (hello! community) access for local economically deprived catchment areas. Several people reported having learned more about research, spaceflight, and some students expressed interest in STEM for future study. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | We the Curious (Bristol museum) schools day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We participated in a schools visit day where students could observe and interact with normal and mutant worms and spaceflight hardware. Use of worms for research, what it is like to be a scientist, and general topics around spaceflight were discussed. Several students reported having learned more about research, spaceflight, and/or expressed interest in STEM for future study. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Wonder |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participated in the University of Nottingham's Science open day (Wonder). Displayed a poster on our spaceflight experiment Molecular Muscle and had activities based around looking at normal and muscular dystrophy worms, worms in special hardware for spaceflight, and packaging worms for spaceflight. Engaged in discussions with the public around spaceflight, the UK Space Agency, worms as a model for research, microscopy, digital microscopy, and space industry. General feedback was that microscopy, worms, and spaceflight were cool. Several individuals reported having learned more about the UK Space Agency and UK space industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/wonder/index.aspx?utm_source=CampusUpdate&utm_campaign=Wonder2019 |
Description | World arthritis day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview to a journalist writing for understanding animal research for world arthritis day. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/research-medical-benefits/bony-research-how-zebra... |
Description | downtoearth.org.in |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | We were approached to write a piece for a special issue of Downtoearth on space exploration. We provided this piece and the issue was distributed to policy makers throughout asia. 15-May-2019 issue. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.downtoearth.org.in/archives |
Description | medium.com |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave a follow up interview by e-mail post press conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://medium.com/life-on-the-other-planets-whats-new/36-000-worms-will-launch-into-space-for-an-ex... |
Description | mission discovery |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Provided input to mission feasibility for a student participating in an a space mission competition. The student shared my input with his workshop group. The student enjoyed the workshop and found the input helpful. The student will continue to pursue space related education and career paths. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | news.yahoo.com |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Responded to a request to run a story based upon what we had written for The Conversation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://uk.news.yahoo.com/worms-space-why-launching-them-134927760.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=a... |
Description | physicsworld |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview for astronomy/physics practitioners. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | space.com |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview and provided artwork. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.space.com/42605-lasers-crystals-worms-spacex-cargo-launch.html |
Description | spaceflight insider |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave an interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/spacex-set-to-launch... |
Description | videnskab.dk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Was contacted and asked to re-review a pre-print of a NASA study to be published in Science. Reviewed the paper and discussed it with a journalist who then wrote a story on the publication to correspond with the end of Science's embargo period. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://videnskab.dk/krop-sundhed/unikt-tvillingestudie-saadan-blev-astronauts-krop-paavirket-af-at-... |