A Universe of Space Career Options with Gravity-Defying Guidance from Women at the International Space Station

Is it true that you are researching diseases in micro-gravity? How did you get your first experiment to the ISS? What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now? What’s one thing you thing STEM students should know about careers in space?

These are only some of the questions être received last week when we announced that women in the space industry were poised to answer students’ questions during last week’s 2022 International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) in Washington D.C.

I was thrilled to participate as a member of the ISS National Lab’s Education Outreach Subcommittee and bring être’s questions straight to the experts.

Celebrating a “Decade of Results” and gathering leaders from U.S. government agencies, the commercial sector, academic institutions and the ISS itself, the conference shone a bright spotlight on the latest research and technology developments taking place today in low Earth orbit.

What kinds of developments?

Think disease modeling, regenerative medicine, advanced crop science and more. Orbiting 248 miles (400 km) above the Earth’s surface, the ISS National Lab has launched hundreds of experiments over the last ten years “in the fields of human health, biosciences and biotechnology, energy and bio-fuels, physical and materials science, engineering research and technology, and Earth and space imaging and observations.”

And women leading in these fields stood up to talk about what’s next.

Women like Cindy Marten , U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, who opened the first day of the conference with a forthright commitment to “inspire the next generation of the STEM workforce and increase students’ access to high quality STEM education experiences…We’re inspiring them to pursue career pathways that will support the space sector.”

And women like NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins pictured above, who joined the conference via live downlink from the ISS to answer the question: What does it feel like when you first arrive on board the ISS?

“When you arrive,” she began, “it actually all feels very familiar…because we have done the training…[but] at the same time it is equally as unfamiliar; it is the most unfamiliar environment we can find ourselves in. That kind of juxtaposition…it took some time to mesh those two to the point where now it feels like home.”

“As a scientist,” Watkins continued, “it is just the most exciting place to be here on Space Station, and as a geologist, in particular, to be able to look out the window and see Earth from a planetary perspective…is just a really unique opportunity.”

How do scientists even get their first experiments to the ISS??We asked.

“As a molecular biologist doing bench research on the ground, I wasn’t sure how to get my experiments to the ISS,” answered Nicole Wagner, Ph.D. , CEO of LambdaVision, “but with the help of a great team of scientists and engineers, LambdaVision was able to put together an experiment that could be conducted on the ISS. Since then we have flown 5 experiments to the ISS, and there are more to come.”

And one of the coolest things women are working on right now? How about a SCIENCE TAXI??

The yuri ScienceTaxi is going to be launched in 2024 on an ISS visiting vehicle provided by Sierra Space, and it will be the first mission of yuri's new life science incubator for space. The ScienceTaxi, described as a first-of-its-kind life science incubator facility with temperature control, full automation, and real-time data collection, “can host up to 38 experiment units, called ScienceShells,” the team at yuri told us. “Furthermore, the built-in centrifuge allows experiments to be conducted with earth gravity and even Moon or Mars gravity as a reference. Controlled microgravity research is now possible on any orbital or sub-orbital platform thanks to ScienceTaxi and the ScienceShells.”

"This is a huge milestone and will give the scientific community access to (out-of-this) world-class bio research beyond the ISS," stated Daniela Bezdan , Chief Scientific Officer of yuri USA, Inc. "Scientists around the world can secure their research slots on ScienceTaxi with a variety of different experiments possible, such as cell, plants, and crystal experiments."

We couldn’t be more excited to watch this taxi's future launch.

Finally, what do they want tomorrow’s STEM leaders to know...today? ?

"We can see from projects like Genes in Space that students' interest and excitement for science is there,” confirmed Alex Dainis , owner of Helicase Media and a NASA Genes in Space partner who combines her PhD in genetics with digital video to make science accessible to broad audiences. ?Then, she added with insight:

“What we as a community and industry need to do is ask how we can best support those students for the future, through access, mentorship, funding, and other support. How can we use the resources available to us to help make sure the next generation gets the opportunity to pursue their goals as we did?"

Clearly, one way to start is with the resources and role models offered by the ISS National Lab. Opportunities to get involved as a student abound, with programs like Genes In Space and Expedition Space Lab, youth-led TV shows like SciGirls in Space, and impact-oriented roles like Space Station Ambassadors – where students of every age can put their passions and talents to work.

As Nicole Wagner summed up for us:

“Research in space is not just for engineers. There are opportunities for everyone from people in film and marketing to anthropologists, lawyers, nurses, and biologists, and it doesn’t stop there. The possibilities are endless.”

In other words – the sky’s not even the limit.

Look up. Reach high. Brilliant mentors at space conferences like the ISSRDC are graciously sharing their advice to help launch your dreams to the stars.

They can’t wait to watch you take up space.

Looking forward & skyward,

Illana

êXTRA: Three epic sessions from the #ISSRDC you won’t want to miss: Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten’s Keynote speech, the Education panel moderated by the founder of Hip Hop Science, Maynard Okereke , and a discussion of cutting-edge medical research in micro-gravity with the National Science Foundation, moderated by Stephanie George.