Podcasts about aquarius reef base

This article from InDEPTH Magazine by Phil Short of DEEP Research Labs provides a chronological overview of human subsea habitats, beginning with early experiments and detailing the development of various types, including floating, access shaft, semi-autonomous, and autonomous designs. It highlights significant missions and structures throughout history, such as Conshelf, Sealab, Hydrolab, and Aquarius Reef Base, noting their purpose and contributions to ocean exploration and understanding. The text also discusses current and future projects in subsea habitation, emphasizing the goal of enabling extended human presence on the continental shelf. The article concludes by referencing related resources like books and other InDEPTH articles for further information.Original article : https://indepthmag.com/a-visual-history-of-subsea-habitats/#SubseaHabitats #UnderwaterExploration #OceanResearch #HumanHabitation #Conshelf #Sealab #Hydrolab #AquariusReefBase #DEEPResearchLabs #InDEPTHMagazine #SubseaTechnology #ContinentalShelf #OceanicMissions

In this episode of Decoding Seafood, listeners are treated to an insightful conversation with Roger Garcia, diving safety officer and operations director for the Aquarius Reef Base. With a rich background in diving operations spanning two decades, including service in the US Navy, Roger brings a wealth of experience to the Aquarius program. The facility, nestled off the Florida Keys, serves as a unique underwater research station, allowing scientists to study the marine ecosystem closely. Roger's journey from military service to overseeing operations at this one-of-a-kind base underscores the diverse paths one can take in the pursuit of marine science and safety.

Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Ellen Prager, Marine Scientist and Author about Writing, Science Communication, and Undersea Research.  Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 2:51  Nic & Laura talk about Nic becoming an Uncle7:12  Interview with Dr. Ellen Prager starts12:04  Writing21:13  Science Communication28:30  Undersea Research32:19  Field NotesPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Ellen Prager at linkedin.com/in/ellen-prager-5932824bGuest Bio:Dr. Prager is a marine scientist and author, widely recognized for her expertise and ability to make science entertaining and understandable for people of all ages. She currently works as a freelance writer, consultant, and Chief Scientist for StormCenter Communications, Inc. She was previously the science advisor for Celebrity Cruises in the Galapagos Islands, Chief Scientist for the Aquarius Reef Base program in Key Largo, FL, which includes the world's only undersea research station, and at one time the Assistant Dean at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Dr. Prager has built a national reputation as a scientist and spokesperson for the earth and ocean sciences and is a sought-after speaker for public-oriented events. She has appeared on The Today Show and NBC News, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News, CBS Early Show, The Weather Channel, in shows for the Discovery Channel and was a consultant for the Disney movie, Moana. Dr. Prager has participated in research expeditions to places such as the Galapagos Islands, Papua New Guinea, Caribbean, Bahamas, and the deep waters of the Florida Reef tract. She obtained a BA from Wesleyan University, Connecticut, a MS from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and in 1992, a PhD from Louisiana State University.  Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Today's guests, Dr. Ellen Prager and Dave Jones have found engaging, relevant, and understandable methods to bring the science of ocean, atmosphere, and climate issues to the so-called, ‘non-choir.' Presenting the information in such innovative and entertaining ways keeps them committed to finding new approaches to reach their target audience. This is crucial since climate change is a critical topic for everyone, not solely those interested in science.  Ellen and Dave have an extensive network within the broadcast meteorology community and work to bring them together with leading climate scientists through extreme weather, climate change, and community resilience summits. They believe broadcast meteorologists offer an especially effective way to reach people with scientific information about more than just weather, such as climate change. Additionally, they have written a book for Columbia University Press to engage the public and help combat misinformation about the ocean, marine life, weather, hurricanes, climate change, and more. Their thesis focuses on the frequently asked and sometimes oddball questions they and their colleagues receive, using easy-to-understand answers and some humor to make it more interesting. The title is tentatively ”Megalodons, Mermaids, and Climate Change: You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers. Ask Away!!!,” which is slated to come out in Fall 2024.  Ellen and Dave hope to complete a series of public-oriented events associated with the book and restart the summits (the last one was right before COVID) in the next year or two, especially as the impacts of climate change are expected to get more extreme in the future. Climate change doesn't cause hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves, or flooding, but it makes them more extreme with costly and, in some cases, tragic consequences.    About Ellen Prager, PhD Ellen Prager, PhD, is a marine scientist and author, widely recognized for her expertise and ability to make science entertaining and understandable for people of all ages. She currently works as a freelance writer, consultant, Chief Scientist for StormCenter Communications, and Science/Program Advisor to Celebrity Cruises in the Galapagos Islands. She was previously the Chief Scientist for the Aquarius Reef Base program in Key Largo, FL, which includes the world's only undersea research station, and at one time, was the Assistant Dean at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Dr. Prager has built a national reputation as a scientist and spokesperson for the earth and ocean sciences and is a sought-after speaker for public-oriented events. She has appeared on “The Today Show” and “NBC News”, “Good Morning America”, CNN, “Fox News”, “CBS Early Show”, The Weather Channel, shows for the Discovery Channel, and was a consultant for the Disney movie “Moana.”   Ellen focuses much of her time on bringing earth and ocean science to the public through writing, working with the media, creating innovative partnerships, and speaking events. Her recent publication “Dangerous Earth: What We Wish We Knew About Volcanoes, Hurricanes, Climate Change, Earthquakes and More” takes an engaging look at what scientists wish they knew about some of the planet's most powerful forces. Her latest novel for young readers, “Escape Greenland”, released in April 2021, combines fast-paced adventure, humor, and relatable characters with fun learning about climate change, science, and nature. It is the second book in a series entitled “The Wonder List Adventures” published by Tumblehome Learning. The first book, “Escape Galapagos,” released in 2019, received rave reviews from readers. The first book in her previous middle-grade series, “The Shark Whisperer”, has been called, ‘an underwater Harry Potter.' Her previous popular science book, “Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime: The Oceans' Oddest Creatures and Why They Matter”, took an entertaining look at marine biodiversity, its relevance to the average person, and why ocean life and resources are now at risk. Ocean advocate Carl Safina says of the book, “A great book for beginners and even experts can learn from and enjoy—this is possibly the best general book ever written on creatures of the deep.”  It has also been called, “hilarious,” “tastefully salacious,” and “fascinating.” She has written articles for scientific journals, public-oriented magazines, and several other books including “Chasing Science at Sea: Racing Hurricanes, Stalking Sharks, and Living Undersea with Ocean Experts” and “The Oceans.” Ellen has also published a series of children's books with the National Geographic Society. The first, “SAND” received the 2000 Parents Choice Award, and was followed by “Volcano” and “Earthquakes.”    Ellen has participated in research expeditions to places such as the Galapagos Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and the deep waters of the Florida Reef tract. She obtained a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University, a master's degree from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and in 1992, a doctorate from Louisiana State University.    In 1992, as a faculty scientist at the Sea Education Association (SEA) in Woods Hole, MA, Ellen taught oceanography to undergraduates, teachers, and senior citizens in a unique educational program in which classroom learning is supplemented by extensive hands-on experience at sea aboard tall sailing ships.  She later became the resident director of the National Undersea Research Center in the Bahamas. In 1997, she joined the U.S. Geological Survey where she split her time between scientific research in marine geology, oceanography, and coral reefs and public education. During 1998, the International Year of the Ocean (YOTO), Ellen co-chaired the subcommittee on research, exploration, and education for the National Ocean Conference presided by the President and Vice President of the United States.  Ellen was a member and then Chairman of the Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel for the federal government and was hired by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to help write their report to Congress and the President. She continues to focus her efforts on developing innovative and entertaining ways to share her passion for the oceans and the environment with others.  About Dave Jones Dave Jones is a 35-year veteran of the weather industry and worked at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.  He also served as an on-air meteorologist for nearly a decade in the 1990s at NBC4 WRC-TV, the NBC-owned and operated TV station in Washington, DC. Additionally, he appeared multiple times on NBC's “Today Show”, NBC Europe, and CNBC Asia. While working for NBC, Dave developed the FIRST television weather website in the nation in 1995, launching a new era in communicating NASA data to the public. The website, “WeatherNet4” positioned NBC4 in Washington, DC, and NBC across the nation as a broadcast leader and early innovator of internet technology.    For several decades, Dave was a co-organizer and host of an annual weather and climate summit to bring together leading scientists and broadcast meteorologists. The summit quickly became a favorite event for broadcast meteorologists at both the national and regional levels. It reached millions of households through related live productions and, later, via social media.    In 2001, Dave founded StormCenter Communications, Inc. Under the Federal Government's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, he and his team developed a unique technology known as GeoCollaborate. This groundbreaking technology allows the sharing of trusted data across any web mapping platform in real-time, enhancing situational awareness and decision-making across various sectors, agencies, and organizations.   GeoCollaborate is being adopted by US Federal Agencies, States, and private sector organizations facilitating more effective decision-making in markets such as military, intelligence, civil agencies, climate resilience planning, energy and transportation, food, agriculture, healthcare, cyber, and homeland security. Due to StormCenter's SBIR success, the company was honored as a Tibbitts Award Winner by the Small Business Administration for exceptional performance under the SBIR program.   Dave, a former president of the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP Federation), continues to co-chair the ESIP Disaster Lifecycle Cluster. He has recently played a crucial role in advancing Operational Readiness Levels (ORLs) for trusted data to inform decision processes. In 2006, Dave received the ‘Charles S. Falkenberg Award', an esteemed ESIP-AGU recognition given to an early to mid-career scientist who has contributed to the quality of life, economic opportunities, and planet stewardship through the utilization of Earth science information and to the public awareness of the importance of understanding our planet. Dave was also honored as ESIP's Partner of the Year for 2020. 

Dr. Laura is joined by the brilliant Dr. Shawna Pandya - a Canadian physician, aquanaut, scientist-astronaut candidate with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, VP of Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies, and Director of IIAS' Space Medicine Group. Dr. Pandya talks about the many facets of her career and what drives her to success and continued exploration.It is tempting to simply call Dr. Shawna Pandya superhuman and assume she is on a level of her own, but Dr. Laura delves into the very human side of what inspired Dr. Pandya to pursue space medicine, and what continues to keep her growing. Dr. Pandya talks about resilience and the ability to see failure as growth. She has wrestled with her own perceived failures and learned how perspective shifts things for the better. Dr. Pandya explains what being an aquanaut is, her record for days living under the sea, the importance of mentorship and role models in life, and who her own mentors are. From studying to be a neurosurgeon to testing the first commercial spacesuit in zero gravity, Dr. Pandya shares with Dr. Laura how she navigates her extraordinary life.“...so realizing the end is not guaranteed, but the journey is so incredible. Like if you told me as a kid I would get to be part of Mars simulations and get to command these missions and get to live under the sea and do really cool science as part of this and do really cool technology development, and even work with some of these companies like I do with Sonic or advise some of these companies, you know, that's a pretty cool dream to realize as an adult! And so the journey is just as important as that end goal.”  Dr. Shawna PandyaAbout Dr. Shawna Pandya, BSc (Hons), MSc, MD, CFPC, DMT, FAWM (candidate), FEWM (honorary):Dr. Shawna Pandya is a physician, aquanaut, scientist-astronaut candidate with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), skydiver, pilot-in-training, VP Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies, Associate Fellow of the Aerospace Medicine Association, and Fellow of the Explorers Club. She is Director of IIAS' Space Medicine Group, Chief Instructor for IIAS' Operational Space Medicine course, a host with the World Extreme Medicine's podcast series, Primary Investigator for the Shad Canada-Blue Origin student microgravity competition, member of the AIAA ASCEND Guiding Coalition, medical advisor at Astreas and Above: Space Development Corporation, and sessional lecturer for “Technology and the Future of Medicine,” at the University of Alberta. Dr. Pandya was on the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero-gravity in 2015. She earned her aquanaut designation on the 2019 NEPTUNE (Nautical Experiments in Physiology, Technology and Underwater Exploration) mission. Her expeditions have been previously captured in the 2019 Land Rover short, 'Another World,' released with the Apollo 11: First Steps film, and in the 2022 FIGS Space Navy and Mauve space medicine themed campaign. She interned at ESA's European Astronaut Center and NASA's Johnson Space Center. Her publications include a paper on medical guidelines for commercial suborbital spaceflight, and book chapters on space technologies that have benefitted terrestrial medicine, psychological resilience in long-duration spaceflight, and reproduction and sexuality in long-duration spaceflight. In 2021, she was granted an Honorary Fellowship in Extreme and Wilderness Medicine and named to the Canadian Women's Executive Network's Top 100 Most Powerful Women. Her work is permanently exhibited at the Ontario Science Center alongside Dr. Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman in space. In 2022, Dr. Pandya was named to the Explorers' Club's “50 Explorers Changing the World."Resources:Shawna Pandya, MD on LinkedInDr. Shawna Pandya at the IIAS (International Institute for Astronautical Sciences)WEMcast (World Extreme Medicine Podcast)Dr. Roberta Bondar“No Ego” by Cy Wakeman“An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth” by Chris HadfieldHouston, We Have a Podcast (NASA podcast) “Another World: A Film by Land Rover” short film on YouTube“FIGS Scrubs: Space Navy and Mauve” ad on YouTubeLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingCalgary Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology

** Roman will be one of the featured speakers at the upcoming Space Tourism Conference (https://lnkd.in/gQ5VSrnZ) in Los Angeles, CA on April 28th. ** Get 20% registration at the Space Tourism Conference with the code: PRTorg22 With space tourism so much in the news over the past year, millions of people are looking for the space experience. And while many of us may never make it off planet, there are still ways that non-astronauts can at least get a taste of what space is like. On this edition of The Ex Terra podcast, Tom Patton talks with Roman Chiporukha, the co-founder and CEO of Space VIP, a company that helps arrange spaceflights and the space experience through a variety of vendors. The stated mission of Space VIP is "To enable future generations of private astronauts, aggregate the incessant flow of information, and embolden the citizens of Earth to participate in New Space." Those opportunities include ground-based "Earthanaut" experiences such as astronaut training, simulation experiences, simulated suborbital and orbital training, spacesuit operations training and an aerobatic flight test course. Aquanaut experiences include multi-day stays aboard the Aquarius Reef Base in Florida, a Titanic Survey Expedition and a robotic journey to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Trips to the edge of space and beyond include a high-altitude balloon flight aboard Spaceship Neptune, Suborbital flights offered by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, as well as orbital flights with SpaceX, and eventually excursions to the ISS and private space stations in Earth Orbit. Roman will be one of the featured speakers at the upcoming Space Tourism Conference on April 28th, Registration for the conference is open now, and the organizers are offering a 20 percent discount on registration using the code PRTorg22. How does what happens in space affect your everyday life? The Ex Terra podcast is dedicated to introducing you to many of the interesting people involved in the commercial space industry, and taking you behind the scenes with many of the companies making significant contributions to the new space economy. The podcast is available on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts and Radio Public.

Today We start A book called Nerd, Reveal the giveaway Winners, And talk about some special News --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

There are so many amazing people who have contributed to the world of space. Jeanette Epps, Charles Bolden Jr, Mae Jemison and Katherine Johnson are just a few. Listen to hear all about their incredible lives, and why we consider them to be some of our Space Heroes! Unfortunately, Henna couldn't join us, but our favorite Space Plumber, Sammi joins Anna to chat about some people who inspire them! Music from filmmusic.io "Tyrant" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Sources: Jeanette Epps: Jeanette Epps. 22 Apr. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanette_Epps. History.com Editors. “Jim Crow Laws.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 28 Feb. 2018, www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/jim-crow-laws. “Aquanaut.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Apr. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquanaut. Loff, Sarah. “NEEMO - NASA Extreme Environment MIssion Operations.” NASA, NASA, 24 June 2015, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NEEMO/index.html. “Aquarius Reef Base.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 May 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_Reef_Base. Northon, Karen. “NASA Announces Updated Crew Assignments for Space Station Missions.” NASA, NASA, 18 Jan. 2018, www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-updated-crew-assignments-for-space-station-missions. Mae Jemison “Mae Jemison.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 June 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Jemison. “Star Trek: The Original Series.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 June 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Original_Series. “Mae C. Jemison.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 27 Feb. 2020, www.biography.com/astronaut/mae-c-jemison. “Sally Ride.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 June 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Ride. “STS-47.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 May 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-47. Dunbar, Brian. “STS-47.” NASA, NASA, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-47.html. “Finding Where the Wind Goes : Moments from My Life : Jemison, Mae, 1956- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, New York : Scholastic, 1 Jan. 1970, archive.org/details/findingwherewind00jemi. Inspiringquotes.us. “Top 22 Quotes of MAE JEMISON Famous Quotes and Sayings: Inspringquotes.us.” Inspiring Quotes, www.inspiringquotes.us/author/9349-mae-jemison. “Newsweek.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 June 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsweek. “The Good Girls Revolt.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Apr. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Girls_Revolt. Charles Bolden: Garcia, Mark. “Charles F. Bolden, Jr. NASA Astronaut.” NASA, NASA, 17 Jan. 2017, www.nasa.gov/node/396058/. “Charles Bolden.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 May 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bolden?fbclid=IwAR3UAFirjmLn3rQvh1tIZcQMRqSxRDBlsNiUuuoPZsMp29GTh9n9c2enRdc. Wilson, Jim. “Former Administrator Charles F. Bolden.” NASA, NASA, 23 Jan. 2015, www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/bolden_bio.html?fbclid=IwAR1txi9pOv5UcwCh_PzknMIgrz8BvOM1hKR3h7nV5j1APMtHgRepKYKaeaQ. Katherine Johnson: Loff, Sarah. Katherine Johnson Biography. 22 Nov. 2016, www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography. “Katherine Johnson.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 June 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Johnson.

Dr Shawna Pandya's ambition is to become an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency. On her road, this gaol Shawna has developed her leadership, project management and problem-solving skills to an impressive degree alongside progressing as a clinician using both pathways to interlink with each other to make her not only a remarkable medic but also an extremely suitable astronaut candidate. In this episode Mark Hannaford, WEM Founder, and Shawna in a wide-ranging discussion talk about maintaining a strong mental focus, the value of outside interests in making you a better clinician and overcoming adversity to achieve success. Listen > WEMCAST WEM Conference   Dive Medicine on Aquarius Reef Base ..... From Shawna's webpage. Dr. Shawna Pandya is a physician, speaker, martial artist, citizen-scientist astronaut candidate with Projects PoSSUM & PHEnOM, and prime crew aquanaut with Project Poseidon. Through her involvement with Project PoSSUM, Dr. Pandya was part of the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in micro-gravity. She has also completed centrifuge studies, emergency spacecraft egress and sea survival training, and wilderness medicine training. She also currently serves at the Life Sciences Team Lead for Association of Spaceflight Professionals and the Life Sciences Chair for the Canadian Space Society. Dr. Pandya holds degrees in Honors Neuroscience (BSc. Hons, University of Alberta), Space Studies (MSc., International Space University) and medicine (MD, University of Alberta). She is licensed as a general practitioner. Prior to completing medical school, she attended Singularity University, where she co-founded CiviGuard, based on Singularity’s challenge to positively impact 1 billion people in 10 years using accelerating technologies. She is an accomplished speaker, having given talks at TEDxUAlberta, TEDxEdmonton and the University of Alberta’s Peter Lougheed Leadership College at the invitation of former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell. Dr. Pandya is a passionate STEM advocate, and a frequent speaker at schools, universities, scientific conferences and science centres. She is represented by the National Speakers’ Bureau. Dr. Pandya also holds certifications in solo sky-diving, advance, open water, Nitrox and rescue diving, and is working towards her private pilot’s license. Dr. Pandya is fluent in English, French, Gujarati, and speaks introductory Spanish and Russian. She also sings, plays the piano and holds a black belt in Taekwondo and has trained annually at Muay Thai fight camps in Thailand since 2015, entering and winning her first amateur fight in 2017.

In this episode we talk to Dr. Shawna Pandya. Dr. Pandya is a scientist-astronaut candidate with Project PoSSUM, physician, aquanaut, speaker, martial artist, advanced diver, skydiver, pilot-in-training, VP Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies and Fellow of the Explorers’ Club. She holds degrees in neuroscience, space, entrepreneurship and medicine, and is currently completing a fellowship in Wilderness Medicine. In 2015, Dr. Pandya completed scientist-astronaut candidate training with Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) and was on the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero-gravity. She has flown over 140 parabolas in microgravity to date. Dr. Pandya is the lead instructor for Project PoSSUM’s EVA 102: Operational Space Medicine course and Director for Project PoSSUM’s Space Medicine Group. Through Project PoSSUM, she completed hypobaric hypoxia training, centrifuge studies, aerobatic flight, basic and advanced emergency spacecraft egress and sea survival training, and high altitude noctilucent cloud research. Dr. Pandya also completed a tour at the Mars Desert Research Station analog in Utah, both as Commander and as Crew Health & Safety Officer. In 2019, Dr. Pandya attained her aquanaut designation during a 5-day underwater mission (NEPTUNE) at the Jules Underwater Lodge, completed the World Extreme Medicine Hyperbaric and Dive Medicine Course at Aquarius Reef Base, where NASA NEEMO missions take place, and was named a fellow of the Explorers’ Club. Her adventures were recently captured in the Land Rover short, released with the Apollo 11: First Steps film. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clayming-space/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/clayming-space/support

Dr. Shawna Pandya is a citizen-scientist astronaut candidate with Project PoSSUM, physician, speaker, martial artist, advanced diver, skydiver and pilot-in-training. She holds degrees in neuroscience, space, entrepreneurship and medicine, and is currently completing a fellowship in Wilderness Medicine. In 2015, Dr. Pandya completed Scientist-Astronaut Candidate training with Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) and was part of the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero-gravity; her work with Project PoSSUM and Final Frontier Design was captured in the CBC Documentary, “We Are Canada.” She has continued to test commercial spacesuits with Project PoSSUM’s annual microgravity parabolic flight campaigns, and has completed over 100 parabolas in microgravity to date. Dr. Pandya is also the lead instructor for Project PoSSUM’s EVA 102: Space and Wilderness Medicine course. As part of Project PoSSUM, she also completed hypobaric hypoxia training, centrifuge studies, aerobatic flight, basic and advanced emergency spacecraft egress and sea survival training, and high altitude noctilucent cloud research. Dr. Pandya also completed a 2-week tour at the Mars Desert Research Station analog in Utah as the Crew Health and Safety Officer. She has recently been named as an ambassador for the PoSSUM 13, an initiative to make space opportunities and engagement more accessible to students, particularly girls and young women. She also serves as the Chair of Strategic Development for this initiative. Dr. Pandya will be attaining her aquanaut designation with a mission to the Jules Verne Underwater Lodge later this year and successfully completed the World Extreme Medicine Hyperbaric and Dive Medicine Course at Florida International University’s Aquarius Reef Base, where NASA NEEMO missions take place, attaining her Dive Medical Technician designation in the process. Her adventures and experiences were recently captured in the Land Rover short, released with the Apollo 11: First Steps film. In her spare time, Dr. Pandya practices Taekwondo (as a second-degree black belt) and Muay Thai. She is currently working towards her private pilot’s license and holds her accelerated free fall solo skydiving license and numerous SCUBA diving certifications. Dr. Pandya also sings and plays the piano.

For this special episode of STEM-Talk, IHMC Research Scientist and STEM-Talk Host Dawn Kernagis sits on the other side of the microphone. This summer, Dawn was one of six divers selected for NASA’s NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations) 21 mission, and we were able to talk to her live from the Aquarius Reef Base, located 62 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. During the 16-day mission, Dawn and her colleagues performed field research designed to test operations and equipment for future space exploration. In particular, the international crew of aquanauts performed research both inside and outside the habitat. During simulated spacewalks carried out underwater, they evaluated tools and mission operation techniques that could be used in future space missions. Inside the habitat, the crew's objectives include testing a DNA sequencer, a medical telemetry device, and HoloLens operational performance for human spaceflight cargo transfer. In many ways, the NEEMO mission crystalizes Dawn’s career. Her research expertise has been focused on human performance, risk mitigation and resilience in extreme environments—namely undersea and in space. In addition to her accomplishments as a scientist, Dawn is also a long-standing diver, and this year was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Conducting the interview is IHMC Senior Research Scientist and former NASA astronaut Tom Jones. Dawn shares aspects of her daily life in the undersea habitat, from eating freeze dried food to watching thousands of fish from the galley window every night before bed. She also delves into the research that she conducted, which included testing a mini DNA sequencer and deep water dives to collect samples of several coral species and weighted walks on the ocean floor to simulate space walks. STEM-Talk’s Billy Howell and Jason Conrad, key players in the production of each episode, also join the impromptu conversation with “fanboy” questions for Dawn. Dawn kept a blog about her experience, which you can read at: http://www.ihmc.us/blog/neemo 2:00: Dawn discussed her experience as manager for the world record-breaking diving exploration project Wakulla Springs. 2:24: On her induction, last April, into the Women Divers Hall of Fame, she said, “It was cool to be sitting with women I have looked up to since I was a little girl.” 3:23: Dawn described certain challenges faced by people working in extreme environments such as Navy divers, deep sea divers and astronauts: decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity and nitrogen narcosis. 5:02: Ken Ford read a 5-star iTunes review (which are piling up): “The best podcast. It is as if the double secret selection committee has hacked my Google search. Keep up the great work, team.” 5:37: Tom Jones explained that the NEEMO mission, now in its 15th year, is an analog to deep space expedition. 6:09: Dawn said her voice sounded high because of the increase in air density in her undersea habitat. 7:14: Dawn explained that for the in-water work, they gear up and jump out of the habitat in hard hat diving supplies. “There is constant communication with the habitat,” she says. 9:30: “It makes such a difference to have a great team.” 9:50: “The nice thing is we have support divers who bring supplies up and down on a daily basis. It is not as isolated as space expeditions.” 10:50: Dawn described some of the physiological effects of being at a pressure of 3 atmospheres and 62 feet deep: “I can’t whistle; I have a high voice; we can feel swells pick up overhead—the pressure changes, so our ears are constantly popping. We’re hungry all the time.” 12:12: They performed simulated space walks to identify different species of coral for the Florida International University marine sciences team. 13:25: They used geology sample tools and water-resistant iPads. 14:20: They tested medical telemetry equipment (like min...

This week, we take an audio journey to NOAA's Aquarius Reef Base--the world's only undersea research lab. We talk with the director of the Aquarius to learn about some of the tech, science and logistics that make this one-of-a-kind underwater lab possible. Then we speak with the National Educational Coordinator from NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Office to hear about Aquarius 2010, a 10-day research mission that just wrapped up on Aquarius Reef Base that doubled as a powerful educational outreach event.