Roberta Bondar

Infobox Astronaut
name =Roberta Bondar


type =NRC/CSA Astronaut
nationality =Canadian
date_birth =December 4, 1945
place_birth =Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
occupation =Neurologist, Scientist, Educator, Author, Photographer
selection =1983 NRC Group
time =8 days, 1 hour, 44 minutes
mission =STS-42
insignia =|

Roberta Lynn Bondar, OC, O.Ont, FRCP(C), FRSC (born December 4, 1945, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) is Canada's first woman astronaut and the world's first neurologist in space. Following a distinguished career at NASA as head of space medicine for more than a decade, Bondar is today a highly regarded consultant and speaker in the business, scientific and medical communities, particularly noted for her insights on peak performance, strategic thinking, and adaptive decision-making in uncertain or shifting business environments.

Education

She holds a B.Sc 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 neurobiology from the University of Toronto (1974), an MD from McMaster University (1977), and is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in neurology 1981. She also contributed to space medicine as the world's first neurologist. When she was young she went to Sir James Dunn High School in Sault Ste. Marie. As a neurologist, Bondar completed sub-speciality training in neuro-ophthalmology at Tuft's New England Medical School in Boston. Bondar has completed the National Disaster Life Support Instructor course, based on the standards established by the USA National Disaster Life Support Education Consortium^TM. A celebrated landscape photographer, Bondar has studied professional nature photography at the Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, California.

NASA career

Bondar began astronaut training in 1984, and in 1990 was designated a prime 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. [ [http://www.robertabondar.ca Official website] ] [ [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/bondar_roberta.htm Spacefacts biography of Roberta Bondar] ] [ [http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=3001 Order of Canada Citation] ] Back on Earth, Bondar led an international team of researchers at NASA for more than a decade, examining data obtained from astronauts on 24 space missions to better understand the mechanisms underlying the body's ability to recover from exposure to space.

After NASA

Holder of the NASA Space Medal and inducted into the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame and Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for her groundbreaking research in space medicine, Bondar has received 24 honorary doctorates from Canadian and American universities. In recognition of her continuing work – as a physician and scientist, internationally known speaker, business consultant, author and photographer – TIME magazine named her among North America's best explorers in 2003.

Physician/Scientist

For more than a decade at NASA, Bondar headed an international space medicine research team, continuing to find new connections between astronauts recovering from the microgravity of space and neurological illnesses such as stroke and Parkinson's disease. Bondar's techniques have been used in clinical studies at BI Deaconess Medical Center, a Teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and at the University of New Mexico. Throughout her career, Bondar has maintained a deep interest in our own natural environment. A respected advisor to industry and government, she was recently selected as Canada's first national 'Biotechnology Champion'. She was also honoured as Canada's national patron of UNESCOs International Year of Planet Earth which continues through 2010, and has spoken to diverse scientific, corporate and environmental organizations about social responsibility and our environment.

Consultant/Speaker

As a respected business consultant. Roberta Bondar makes exciting connections between how our brains adapt in space to how we can adapt to very-constantly-changing environments here on Earth. Bondar shares her knowledge on the science of coping with change, along with specific actions that can help organizations deal with the challenges of disorientation in today's chaotic world. She is currently one of North America's most sought-after and respected presenters. She works with organizations as diverse as Pfizer, Oracle and the FBI.

Media spokesperson

Respected for her expertise and animated commentary, Bondar has been a guest of television and radio networks such as CNN, BBC, PBS and CBC throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is featured in the IMAX movie Destiny in Space, and appeared for Disney at the opening of the new technology theme ride Mission Space. Bondar has also co-anchored the Discovery Channel's coverage of space shuttle launches at Cape Canaveral.

Author/Photographer

Bondar's photographic explorations have taken her to some of the most extreme climatic and geological locations on Earth. She has captured the beauty, solitude and dramatic landscape of the American Southwest, the high Arctic and the Sahara Desert with its ancient Roman ruins. Bondar has authored numerous books, articles and essays touching on a wide variety of scientific and popular subjects. Bondar's photographic essay books include: "Touching the Earth" about her astronaut experiences, "Passionate Vision ~ Discovering Canada's National Parks", "Canada ~ Landscapes of Dreams", and "The Arid Edge of Earth".

Honours

Bondar is currently the chancellor of Trent University to which she was appointed in 2003.

She was recently selected as Canada's first national 'Biotechnology Champion'. She was also honoured as Canada's national patron of UNESCOs International Year of Planet Earth which continues through 2010, and has spoken to diverse scientific, corporate and environmental organizations about social responsibility and our environment.

Bondar recently launched a national awareness initiative on potential prevention strategies for Alzheimer's disease. [Alzheimer's disease]

In March 1, 2007, the Ontario government announced that Bondar would lead a review of environmental education in Ontario schools. Education Minister Kathleen Wynne said Bondar has valuable insights on the skills and knowledge that students need in today's complex world.

In 1992 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1998 she was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for her groundbreaking research in space medicine. Bondar has also received 24 honorary doctorates from Canadian and American universities, including Lakehead University whom conferred upon her an honourary Doctorate of Science degree in 1991, and an honourary Doctorate of Science from Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, British Columbia in 1993.

In 2003, "Time" magazine named Bondar one of North America's Best Explorers. She is the holder of the NASA Space Medal and was inducted into the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame.

Legacy

In her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, the Roberta Bondar Park and tent pavilion bear her name as does the Ontario government building at 70 Foster Drive. Roberta Bondar Place is home to Ontario Lottery and Gaming and other Ontario government operations. 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, Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School was opened in Ajax, Ontario and Roberta Bondar Public School was opened in Ottawa, Ontario. In 2005, a second public school named Roberta Bondar Public School opened in Brampton, Ontario. A third public school to be named after Bondar is set to open in Vaughan, Ontario in September 2008. A school in Abbotsford, British Columbia, (Dr. Roberta Bondar Elementary) is also named after Bondar.

Dr. Roberta Bondar will step down as the Chancellor of Trent University on June 30, 2009, after serving two consecutive (3-year) terms. During yesterday's (October 3, 2008) Trent board of governors meeting, board members heard that a search for a new chancellor will begin as the year draws to a close.

ee also

*List of Canadian university leaders

Notes

External links

* [http://www.robertabondar.com/ Roberta Bondar's Official Website]