European Low Gravity Research Association
The European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA) is a non-profit international society devoted to the promotion of scientific research under various gravity conditions in Europe. The organization, established in 1979, provides a networking platform for all scientists interested in life and physical sciences and technology in space or on ground. ELGRA aims at representing and strengthening the scientific community of gravity-related research and helping young scientists and engineers get involved in low- and hyper-gravity research through educational programs.
History
In December 1978, Dr. A. Lebeau, then ESA's Deputy Director General and Director of Planning and Future Programmes, Dr. H.S. Wolff, Chairman of the Life Sciences Working Group and Prof. H. Weiss, then Chairman of the Materials Science Working Group, conceived the idea of forming an association of European scientists with the aim of furthering their interest in exploration, research and development of their sciences in a low gravity environment.
It has, for some years now, been recognized that the availability of a low effective gravitational field aboard orbiting spacecrafts for prolonged periods provides a basic "tool" for research in Life and Materials Sciences. Such research can be of fundamental nature but must necessarily remain largely unexplored when limited to the Earth's surface.
The advent of Spacelab and the possibility of research in low gravity environment on other platforms such as Ariane and Texus rockets has led to a widening European interest in this type of research, still unparalleled in any other part of the world.
Some 250 experiments for research under microgravity conditions have been proposed by European scientists.
Most scientists, if not all, are working in isolation and not only have to plan and execute the science of their experiment but also have to plan the management, the integration of their apparatus in the carrier and the independent operation of it. As experimenters are widely dispersed geographically, the formation of an "association" seemed opportune if not urgent in order to foster the cooperation and the coordination that is essential for success, and to provide the ground-base for an advisory and information service.
During the "Materials Science in Space" symposium held in the spring of 1979 at Grenoble a group of seven scientists: Prof. F. Bonde-Petersen (Denmark), Dr. Y. Malméjac (France), Prof. L.G. Napolitano (Italy), Dr. J.F. Padday (UK), Dr. Stott (UK), Prof. H. Weiss Germany), and Dr. H.S. Wolff (UK), representing both Life and Materials sciences and referred to as the "Founding Fathers", convened a meeting of experimenters and interested persons to discuss the formation of a "European Low Gravity Research Association" (ELGRA).
The meeting resulted in a mandate permitting the Founding Fathers to proceed with the formation of ELGRA and to register its office in Munich. Munich was chosen as, by German law, the Association would not be restricted in any way, and also because Prof. H. Weiss, the provisional Chairman who was prepared and willing to draft the statutes of the Association, lived in Munich.
The Founding Fathers" met in Harrow (near London) on June 18, 1979 and gave their signatures to the draft constitution.
At the 1st General Assembly held on September 9, 1979 in Munich (during the 30th IAF Congress) the registration documents were ratified and Prof. Herbert Weiss was elected the first president. On November 22, 1979 ELGRA was registered in Munich under number 9702.
For several years ELGRA was a study group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Since it was founded, the European Space Agency (ESA) supports ELGRA.
Symposium
ELGRA organizes scientific symposia and courses, mainly under the form of a Biennial Symposium and General Assembly
Previous symposia and meetings:
- 2011 Antwerp, Belgium: ELGRA Biennial Symposium and General Assembly, "Gravity: from µ to x !", 6-9 September, 2011.
- 2010 Triest, Italy: "Life in Space for Life on Earth" combined meeting with the the International Society for Gravitational Physiology (ISGP), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Low Gravity Research Organization (ELGRA).
- 2009 Bonn, Germany: ELGRA Symposium and General Assembly, "In the Footsteps of Columbus", 1-4 Sept. 2009.
- 2008 Angers, France: "Life in Space for Life on Earth" combined meeting with the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology (ASGSB), the International Society for Gravitational Physiology (ISGP), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Low Gravity Research Organization (ELGRA).
- 2007 Florence, Italy: Biennial Symposium and General Assembly, Sept. 4-7.
- 2006 Toledo, Spain: "Science on the European Soyuz Missions to the International Space Station (2001-2005).
- 2005 Santorini, Greece: ELGRA Biennial Symposium and General Assembly, 21-23 September, 2005
- 2003 München, Germany: ELGRA Biennial Symposium and General Assembly, April 2-4, 2003
- 2001 Banyuls sur mer / France : 25-28 September 2001 (ELGRA News Vol.22, Sept. 2001)
- 1999 Roma / Italy : 28 February - 3 March 1999 (ELGRA News Vol 21, Febr. 1999)
- 1997 Paris / France: March 16 - 20, 1997
- 1994 Madrid / Spain: December 11 - 14, 1994
- 1993 Genova / Italy: April 5 - 7, 1993
- 1992 München / Germany: April 2 - 3, 1992
- 1991 Köln / Germany: April 16 - 18, 1991
- 1990 Utrecht / Netherlands: April 9 - 11, 1990
- 1989 Toulouse / France: March 29 - 31, 1989
- 1987 Zürich / Switzerland: March 1 - 3, 1987
- 1984 Noordwijk (ESTEC) / Netherlands: January 11 - 13, 1984
- 1982 Paris / France: October 4 - 5, 1982
- 1981 Anacapri / Italy: September 14 - 15, 1981
- 1980 Bad Alpbach / Austria: August 14 - 15, 1980
Membership
Membership is open to individuals as well as corporate bodies, i.e. scientific institutions or companies, engaged in science under low gravity conditions.
ELGRA offers three different types of membership:
- Student membership : Open to any registered student expressing an interest in the field.
- Regular membership : Open to individuals or publicly-funded scientific institutions
- Supporting membership : Open to individuals, institutions and companies
Management Committee
The ELGRA Management Committee is elected every two years by ELGRA memebrs during the Biennial Symposium and General Assembly. It is composed of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and three members. A special advisor to the Management Committee has been commissioned for educational matters.
Current Management Committee
The current ELGRA Management Committee (2011-2013) is:
| Name | Function | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. Dr. Valentina Shevtsova | President | Microgravity Research Centre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium |
| Dr. Monica Monici | Vice-President | ASA Research Division, Dept. Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Italy |
| Prof. Dr. Floris L. Wuyts | General Secretary | Antwerp University Research centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace, University of Antwerp, Belgium |
| Dr. Kurt Kemmerle | Treasurer | Kayser-Threde GmbH, Munich, Germany |
| Dr. Ing. Thomas Podgorski | Member | Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique (LIPhy), CNRS/Université Grenoble I, France |
| Dr. Ing. Carole Leguy | Member | Division of Space Physiology, DLR, Cologne Germany
German Aerospace Institute |
| Dr. Ing. Jack J.W.A. van Loon | Member | DESC (Dutch Experiment Support Center), Univ. of Amsterdam and VU-University, Dept. of Oral Cell Biology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| Dr. F. Javier Medina | Special Advisor to the Management | Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain |
Former ELGRA Presidents
- Jack van Loon (2007-2011)
- Daniel Beysens (2003-2007)
- Marianne Cogoli-Greuter (1999-2003)
Educational activities
- ELGRA is Committed with students and young scientists involved and interested in gravity-related research and technology through a range of actions:
- provide financial support to attend meetings and courses
- organize a student contest and student session in ELGRA meetings
- counsel and support space related student organizations such as LEEM
- support the Education Office of the European Space Agency in the promotion, selection and mentoring of the following educational programmes: