In this episode, we speak with Dr Shawna Pandya, a Canadian physician, and scientist-astronaut program graduate with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences. Dr Pandya is wearer of many hats, from being the director of the IIAS Space Medicine Group,  Chief Instructor of the IIAS Operational Space Medicine course, Director of Medical Research at Orbital Assembly Corporation, Primary Investigator for the Shad Canada-Blue Origin student microgravity competition, and as well as many more. I am taken on journey by Dr Pandya about how she has dedicated her life to connecting the public to the space sector, merging the world of clinical and medical science to human space flight, and mentoring the next generation of space explorers through outreach initiatives and through Project PoSSUM. From this episode, we will how people from all backgrounds can come together to participate and contribute to space exploration, and work as a single, inclusive community.

For more about Dr. Pandya, she was also part of the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero-gravity in 2015. She earned her aquanaut designation during the 2019 NEPTUNE (Nautical Experiments in Physiology, Technology and Underwater Exploration) mission, and she has previously served as Commander during a 2020 tour at the Mars Desert Research Station. Her expeditions were captured in the Land Rover short, released with the Apollo 11: First Steps film. She previously interned at ESA’s European Astronaut Center and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and she has also published numerous articles and chapters on space technologies that have benefitted terrestrial medicine, psychological resilience in long-duration spaceflight, and reproduction and sexuality in long-duration spaceflight.

Dr. Pandya is a seasoned speaker and has given keynotes all around the world, including TEDxEdmonton 2010, TEDxUAlberta 2016 on Success, Failure, Resilience and Pushing the Limits, TEDxISU 2019 at the International Space University on “Discovering Exploration,” and in former Canadian Prime Minister Rt Hon. Kim Campbell’s Peter Lougheed Leadership College Leadership Lecture Series on Emotional Intelligence.

If you would like to learn more about Shawna’s work, you can read about her experiences and journey on her on her website shawnapandya.com. You can also find Shawna on LinkedIn and on Instagram @shawnapandya.

If you would like to learn more about the show you can email us at thediariesofspaceexplorers@gmail.com.

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Host and creator: Gavin Tolometti

Music Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com