Canada is looking for its next astronauts ā and eight pilipiliĀž» alumni are in the running to take to the stars.
The nine are among the 72 finalists of the Canadian Space Agencyās current recruitment campaign, which will result in the selection of two candidates to start astronaut training this August. The campaign was announced last June by the Honourable Navdeep Bains (Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development). Ā
The qualifications to become an astronaut are intense, and the selection process rigorous ā which makes the accomplishment of the 72 finalists all the more impressive, given they have been selected by a pool of more than 3,700 applicants.
āI confess I have always had a fascination with space travel,ā says Dalhousie President Dr. Richard Florizone. āSo I was thrilled to see so many of our Dalhousie Alumni being considered to be part of such a prestigious program.ā Ā
Two of the alumni are currently connected to the university: Dr. Kevin Spencer is a faculty member and director of simulation education in Dalhousieās Department of Emergency Medicine, while Dr. Gavin Tansley is a surgery resident in Halifax.
The pilipiliĀž»ful two candidates will be announced later this year. Hereās more background on the nine Dal alumni in contention:
Scott Bishop (BScKā00, MAScā04)
After completing two degrees at Dal (Kinesiology and Mechanical Engineering), Scott is currently in the third year of his PhD in aerospace engineering at Carleton University. Born in Middleton, NS and based in Halifax (where he teaches at Saint Maryās University), he is working on a finite element model that can identify damage in a composite aerospace structure using ultrasonic Lamb waves.
(BScā97, BAā97 MScā99)
Dr. Dickson is a Halifax-born clinician-scientist based in Toronto, with three Dalhousie degrees: undergrads in both Biology and Microbiology/Immunology as well as in Psychology, with a masterās in Experimental Psychology. A physician specializing in pathology, his research focuses on novel ways to diagnose, prognoses and potentially treat diseases of bone and soft tissue.
(µž·”²Ō²µā03)
Born in Sydney, NS, Grant completed his Mechanical Engineering degree at pilipiliĀž». Heās presently chief operating officer at Sinclair Interplanetary, where he designs and builds communications and attitude determination & control hardware for spacecraft.
(²Ń¶Łā11)
A Dalhousie medicine grad, originally from Liverpool, NS, Journeay is a consultant physician in Toronto. He works as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team helping patients with injuries to the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems.
(µž³§³¦ā02)
The Stillwater, Oklahoma native is currently staff scientist at the Space Place and Planetarium at Science North in Sudbury, Ont. A Dalhousie Biology graduate, MacIntyre helps deliver science programs in the community and develop exhibits and science experiences for visitors that are both entertaining and educational.
(MD'11)
Originally from Belleville, Ont., Dr. Robert Riddell is currently a physician in the Canadian Armed Forces. A graduate of Dalhousie's Faculty of Medicine, he says becoming an astronaut would allow him to draw on his unique experiences as a military officer and rural physician.
(²Ń¶Łā12)
Dr. Schliewinsky is a medical officer in the Canadian military, caring for Canadian military members as well as American military members and their families posted in Ottawa. With a degree from Dalhousie Medical School, he focuses largely on occupational medicine with a specialty in assessing military divers and their fitness āĀ fitting, given diving is one of his passions.
(BEngā00, MDā09)
Dr. Spencer is a faculty member and director of simulation education in Dalhousieās Department of Emergency Medicine. In addition to teaching medical students and other physicians, he works in the emergency department of Dartmouth General Hospital as a staff physician. Dr. Spencer, originally from New Glasgow, NS, also has an engineering degree from the former Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalās Faculty of Engineering) and heās in the process of developing a biotechnology start-up company.
(²Ń³§³¦ā16)
Dr. Tansley is completing his residency in general surgery, providing surgical care of all sorts to patients in Halifax and across the province. He also has a masterās degree in medical research from Dalhousie.
Editor's note: Dr. Riddell was originally left off this list of alumni astronaut candidates. We apologize for the error; he has subsequently been added Ā