Roberta Bondar
| Roberta Bondar | |
|---|---|
 |
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| NRC/CSA Astronaut | |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Born | December 4, 1945 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario |
| Other occupation | Neurologist, Scientist, Educator, Author, Photographer, Astronaut |
| Time in space | 8 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes |
| Selection | 1983 NRC Group |
| Missions | STS-42 |
| Mission insignia |  |
Roberta Bondar, OC, O.Ont, FRCP(C), FRSC (born December 4, 1945) is Canada's first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space. Following more than a decade as NASA's head of space medicine, Bondar became a consultant and speaker in the business, scientific and medical communities.
Bondar has received many honors including the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, the NASA Space Medal, over 22 honorary degrees and induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.[1]
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[edit] Education
Roberta Bondar graduated from Sir James Dunn High School in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and holds a Bachelor of Science in zoology and agriculture from the University of Guelph (1968), an M.Sc in experimental pathology from the University of Western Ontario (1971), a Ph.D in neuroscience from the University of Toronto (1974), and an MD from McMaster University (1977). She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in neurology (1981).[2]
Bondar has certification in sky diving and parachuting.[2] A celebrated landscape photographer, Bondar studied professional nature photography at the Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, California. She began astronaut training in 1984, and in 1992 was designated Payload Specialist for the first International Microgravity Laboratory Mission (IML-1). Bondar flew on the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery during Mission STS-42, January 22–30, 1992, during which she performed experiments in the Spacelab.[2][3]
[edit] Post-Astronaut Career
Subsequently, Bondar led an international team of researchers at NASA for more than a decade, examining data obtained from astronauts on space missions to better understand the mechanisms underlying the body's ability to recover from exposure to space. See for example [4]
She also pursued her interests in photography, with emphasis on natural environments. She is the author of four photo essay books featuring her photography of the Earth, including Passionate Vision (2000), which covered Canada's national parks.[5]
Dr. Bondar has also been a consultant and speaker to diverse organizations, drawing on her expertise as an astronaut, physician, scientific researcher, photographer, author, environment interpreter and team leader. Respected for her expertise and commentary, Bondar has been a guest of television and radio networks throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is featured in the IMAX movie Destiny in Space, and has also co-anchored the Discovery Channel's coverage of space shuttle launches.
Bondar served two terms as the Chancellor of Trent University, from 2003 to 2009.[6]
On June 28, 2011 it was announced that Bondar will receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame and will be inducted on October 1 at Elgin Theatre in Toronto. She will be the first astronaut to receive the honour.[7].
[edit] Legacy
In her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, the Roberta Bondar Park and tent pavilion bear her name as the Ontario government building at 70 Foster Drive. The marina beside the park is also named in her honour.
Bondar has also been honoured with a marker on Sault Ste. Marie's Walk of Fame.
In 1996, the Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School was opened in Ajax, Ontario and Roberta Bondar Public School was opened in Ottawa, Ontario. In 2005, another public school named Roberta Bondar Public School opened in Brampton, Ontario. There are also Dr. Roberta Bondar Elementary School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School in Maple (Vaughan), Ontario.
[edit] References
- ^ "Biography". Sault Ste. Marie Public Library. http://www.city.sault-ste-marie.on.ca/library/Bondar_Bio.html. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- ^ a b c "Biography of Roberta Bondar". Canadian Space Agency. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions/sts-042/bondar.asp. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- ^ Spacefacts biography of Roberta Bondar
- ^ R. Hughson and R. Bondar, Autonomic nervous system function in space, in Handbook of Clinical Neurology (O. Appenzeller, ed.), Vol. 74 (30): 273‐305, 1999.
- ^ Bondar, Roberta (2000), Passionate Vision, Canada: Douglas & McIntyre, pp. 176, ISBN 978-1-55365-379-0
- ^ "Dr. Roberta Bondar appointed Chancellor of Trent University" (Press release). Trent University. 31 January 2003. http://www.trentu.ca/news/pressreleases/030121rbondar.html. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- ^ "Press Release: Canada's Walk of Fame Announces the 2011 Inductees". Canada's Walk of Fame. 2011-06-28. http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/press-release-canadas-walk-fame-announces-2011-inductees. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
[edit] External links
- Dr. Bondar's home page
- Video: Dr. Roberta Bondar on patriotism following the Olympics & her favourite technology (from NAIT's techlife magazine)
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Peter Gzowski |
Chancellor of Trent University 2003-2009 |
Succeeded by Tom Jackson |
- 1945 births
- Living people
- Canadian astronauts
- Canadian biologists
- Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
- Canadian medical researchers
- Canadian physicians
- Canadian people of German descent
- Chancellors of Trent University
- Female astronauts
- Officers of the Order of Canada
- Members of the Order of Ontario
- McMaster University alumni
- People from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- Physician astronauts
- Canadian people of Ukrainian descent
- University of Guelph alumni
- University of Toronto alumni
- University of Western Ontario alumni
- Women physicians
