Human Performance for Space

7th & 8th December 2024 - Only 25 spots available! 

  • Personal Development

  • Human Performance

  • Astronautics

  • Practical Skills

Building on the successful workshops of the last few years, the two-day Austronaut Human Performance for Space Workshop will cover a range of topics related to astronaut candidate preparation, inspired by the interdisciplinary requirements placed on astronauts during selection and on missions.

The content of this workshop is inspired by astronauts as high performers who are physically, psychologically and technically prepared for operating in a challenging and isolated environment.

Throughout this workshop, instructors will teach participants about what astronauts do to prepare and perform for spaceflight as well as about the elements that support on-going success, through the lens of becoming an astronaut.

What is it?

  • The Hazards of Human Spaceflight

  • Physical Countermeasures for Human Spaceflight

  • Optimal Nutrition for Human Spaceflight

  • The Neuroscience of Performance

  • Protocols for Cognitive Performance

  • Tool for Psychological Resilience

  • Intuitive Decision Making

  • Teamwork & Leadership

  • The Ethics of Human Spaceflight

Key Topics:

To be selected as an astronaut, individuals must achieve a high level of success across multiple disciplines such as academics, physical fitness, operational and technical skills, in addition to strong interpersonal skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication. This requirement makes their journey a powerful model for personal development.

This workshop aims to provide participants with fundamental knowledge and skills that are aligned with astronaut candidate preparation whilst exploring how these skills can improve both professional and everyday performance.

Instructors for this workshop have experience in fields of human performance such as psychology, neuroscience, exercise physiology, nutrition, ethics, flight, yoga, and of course, space. Participants will engage in lessons taught by them that support a holistic approach to mental and physical performance, from both a practical and theoretical perspective.

More information about the content within these areas, as well as the instructors, can be found below.

More…

Special Instructors

German ESA Reserve Astronaut

  • Fighter Jet and Helicopter Pilot

  • Leadership and Crisis Management Speaker and Advisor

  • Engineer & Project Manager at DLR

  • Nicola Winter joined the German Air Force in 2004 and qualified as Germany’s second female fighter pilot in 2007. In total, she has accumulated more than 2350 flying hours and holds commercial pilot, military pilot, helicopter and aerobatic licenses, is a certified flight instructor and trained in hang-gliding. In November 2022, Nicola was selected as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve.

Director, BioPsychAnalytics

  • Human Performance Expert

  • Fellow at UQ School of Psychology

  • Works with Australian Special Forces and Olympic Swimming Team

  • Dr Jemma King has a PhD in Human Behaviour and is a Stress, Sleep and Emotional Intelligence expert. Jemma is a Fellow at UQ School of Psychology and works as a specialist advisor to McKinsey & Co. She has consulted to the Australian Defence Force and the Centre for Australian Army Leadership, the Australian Institute of Sport, and the Australian Olympic Swim Team.

Core Instructors

  • Australian physician Dr Rowena Christiansen is a long-term educator within the University of Melbourne Medical School, and in 2022 developed a new ‘Discovery Subject’ “Human health in the space environment”. She also lectures on ‘humans in space’ for Swinburne University and is a member of the Australian Space Agency Space Medicine Technical Advisory Group.

    She is a creative founder of the International Humans in Space Summit and was also selected for the 2021 ESA Space Physician Training Course.

  • Space Health & Medicine Expert

  • Co-Founder of International Humans in Space

  • 2021 ESA Space Physician Training Course

Physician, Lecturer & Subject Coordinator
The University of Melbourne

  • Dr Evie Kendal is a bioethicist and public health scientist specialising in the ethics of emerging technologies. Her work focuses on reproductive biotechnologies, health communication and media, and space ethics.

    Evie is a Senior Lecturer of Health Promotion at Swinburne University of Technology's Department of Health Sciences and Biostatistics and heads the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Emerging Technologies (ELSIET) research group, housed at the Iverson Health Innovation research institute.

Senior Lecturer, Health Promotion
Swinburne University of Technology

  • Bioethicist and Public Health Scientist

  • Thought Leader and Idea Generator

  • Key interest areas in Space Ethics

  • Dr. Flav holds a B.Sc. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto, a Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics, and a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney, and has made significant contributions to global public health through her research in nutrition. As the founder and CEO of FOODiQ Global, Dr. Flav leads innovative research and education initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes.

    Along with completing the Space Studies Program at the International Space University, her work focuses on future foods, sustainable food systems, and personalized nutrition. Published with TRISH on the nutrition considerations for the brain in deep space missions, and has been awarded the President's Award for Innovation from Dietitians Australia for her work in space nutrition.

  • Space Nutritionist

  • International Space University Alumna

  • International Keynote Speaker

CEO, FOODiQ Global

  • Prior to becoming a lecturer at Swinburne, Harry was the athlete development manager at the West Australian Football Commission, and completed his PhD at Edith Cowan University on the topic of velocity-based training: monitoring, implementation and effects on strength and power.

    Some of his current research areas include: velocity-based training, optimal exercise for astronauts, sprint & jump force-velocity profiling & training, fatigue & barbell movement tracking, exercise & its effect on depression & anxiety, & motivational strategies to increase physical activity levels

Lecturer, Exercise and Sport Science
Swinburne University of Technology

  • Former Athlete Development Manager

  • PhD in Velocity-based Training

  • Researching Optimal Exercise for Astronauts

  • After working with children and families for many years in the public service, Jennifer is completing PhD research at Charles Sturt University with a focus on the use of technology to address loneliness in people in space. Space travel involves separation from others for extended periods of time, and loneliness is a fundamental challenge to overcome.

    Jennifer’s research aims to identify whether social interaction via virtual reality or with a voice-interfaced artificial intelligence program reduces loneliness. This research has relevance for astronauts as well as people on Earth in isolated, remote and confined locations.

Psychologist and PhD Candidate
Charles Sturt University

  • Practicing Psychologist

  • Completing PhD on Loneliness in Space

  • ASAM Humans in Space Course 2023 Grad

  • Jac recently completed a Master’s of Space Science at the International Space University (France). Their passion for optimising human performance in space had her research focus on the nexus of neuroscience, nutrition and human factors. This work was presented at the 2024 Essential Health Summit.

    Fortunate to have participated in a space analog mission and completed astronaut citizen-scientist - Project PoSSUM training, which enabled her to gain deeper insights into challenges of space human performance.

    Currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Nutrition (Space), where she developed the first-ever Astronaut Food Behaviour Model (AFBM) helping to address space anorexia.

    She was one of the 5% of female airline pilots worldwide and the first woman of colour to wear the Qantas Pilot Uniform and fly a jet. With a Bachelor of Aviation, they have worked as a flight instructor, Captain for a regional airline, and most recently as a First Officer (Command Candidate) on the B717 before being medically retired.

    Actively involved in outreach events and has been recognised as a Nicolas Baudin Laureate (France), scholarships and received numerous awards for her service to the aviation community. Speaks French, loves to travel, advanced scuba diver and hiked to the top of Mauna Kea (13803’).

Program Advisor, Austronaut

  • Retired Airline Pilot

  • International Space University Master’s

  • Project Possum Graduate

Schedule (Tentative)

Day 1 - Saturday 7th

9:00am to 4:30pm

  • Description text goes here
  • Description text goes here
  • Description text goes here
  • Item description
  • Item description
  • Item description
  • Item description

Day 2 - Sunday 8th

8:30am to 4:00pm

  • Description text goes here
  • Description text goes here
  • Description text goes here
  • Item description
  • Item description
  • Item description
  • Item description