Roberta Bondar C.C. O.Ont. MD PhD FRCP FRSC
The world’s first neurologist in space, Dr.
Roberta Bondar is globally recognized for her
pioneering contributions to space medicine
research, fine art photography and environment
education. Aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery
mission STS-42 in 1992, she conducted
experiments for 18 countries in the first
International Microgravity Laboratory, a
precursor to the International Space Station.
For over a decade after her spaceflight, she
headed an international research team working
with NASA on neurological symptoms seen after spaceflight, and their connections
to neurological diseases on Earth.
Trained as a member of NASA’s Earth Observation Team, Dr. Bondar expanded her
professional photographic expertise as an honors student in Professional Nature
Photography. Her fine art photographic works are held in private, corporate and
institutional collections in Canada, the U.S. and England. She is the author of four
best selling books featuring her writing and photography.
Dr. Bondar continues to use fine art photography to explore and reveal Earth’s
natural environment from the surface, seeing the world through the creative lenses
of medical doctor, scientist, photographer, astronaut and writer. In her current
project Protecting Space for Birds, Dr. Bondar is integrating three views of migratory
bird corridors in the Americas and Asia-Europe-Africa—space, surface and aerial—
to give us insight into the habitats needed by and to protect endangered and
threatened birds.
Dr. Bondar’s distinctions are diverse and include: Companion of the Order of
Canada, the Order of Ontario, the NASA Space Medal, induction into the Canadian
Medical Hall of Fame and into the International Women’s Forum’s Hall of Fame, 28
honorary doctorates from Canadian and American Universities, Chancellor of Trent
University 2003-2009, six Canadian schools in her name, a Specially Elected Fellow
of the Royal Society of Canada, an Honorary Fellow and Honorary Vice-president of
the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and her own star on Canada’s Walk of
Fame.
