November 15, 2005 Source: University of Regina:
http://www.uregina.ca/news/releases/2005/november/15%20(b).shtml Saskatoon-born astronaut visits University of Regina Release: November 15, 2005
Contact: Jim Duggleby, External Relations
E-mail: James.Duggleby@uregina.ca
Phone: (306) 585.5439
Mobile: (306) 536.4312
Fax: (306) 585.4997 Saskatoon-born astronaut visits University of Regina
Saskatoon-born Canadian Space Agency astronaut Dave Williams will visit the University of Regina on Thurs., Nov 17 at 10 a.m. to speak to kinesiology and health studies students about his space-based research in the health sciences. The lecture will take place in Room 164.16, Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport. Williams will speak about his experiences aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in April 1998. During this 16-day flight, called Neurolab, the seven-person crew served as both experimental subjects and operators for 26 individual life science experiments. These experiments, dedicated to neuroscience research, focused on the effects of microgravity on the brain and nervous system. "I am very pleased to have Dr. Williams speak to my students," says John Barden, professor of kinesiology and health studies. "His research parallels some of the work we are doing at the University of Regina, particularly in the area of upper extremity injury and neuromuscular control." Barden is director of the Neuromechanical Research Centre (NMRC) in the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport. The purpose of the NMRC is to investigate the neuromuscular and biomechanical bases of human movement. The focus of Barden’s research is to understand how the nervous system controls the mechanics of human movement. Williams was born in Saskatoon. He obtained a bachelor of science in biology, a master of science in physiology, a doctorate of medicine and a master of surgery from McGill University. Williams has served as an emergency physician and is currently an adjunct professor of surgery at the University of Toronto and McGill University. He has also served as director of the Space and Life Sciences Directorate at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, becoming the first non-American to hold a senior management position with NASA. Williams is currently training to participate in his second space flight, an 11-day mission where he will perform three spacewalks. -30-
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