Past position (2009-2010): Science Officer at ESF
The European Science Foundation (ESF) provides a platform for its Member Organisations to advance European research and explore new directions for research at the European level.
The European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC) is an Expert Board of the ESF and is its interface with the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, national space agencies, and ESF Member Organisations on space-related aspects.
On behalf of the ESF-ESSC, I supported the peer-review activity related to 5 Research Announcements launched by ESA in 2009. This encompassed an International Life Sciences Research Announcement (experiments on the International Space Station - ISS) where international space agencies (NASA, JAXA, CSA, CNES, ASI, DLR) also participate, and two European Research Announcements in the areas of physical sciences, bed-rest studies, and life sciences preparatory activities not conducted on the ISS. Another announcement of opportunity solicited proposals related to medical, physiological and psychological research using Concordia Antarctic station as human exploration analogue. Finally, I also managed the peer review for continuous research announcements such as proposals of scientific experiments to be carried out in drop towers and in parabolic flights.
Besides these activities, I am also involved in two other projects. The first project, initiated as a request from the European Space Agency (ESA) deals with “Technological breakthroughs for scientific progress” (TechBreak). In space sciences, as well as in “mainstream” science, the development of innovative technologies opens new fields of research and provides sophisticated new tools for scientists. However, the experience of the past decades of space research has demonstrated that a conservative approach to technology is too often followed: self-censorship can be applied regarding space technologies that are not yet fully proven, for fear of losing in competitive assessment phases. This may be partly due to the very long development times in that domain, but the result is that evolution is gradual and breakthroughs do not happen as frequently as they could. This trend is most probably not limited to the space science field. This Forward Look project therefore proposes to address the following topics, on the basis of breakthrough scientific objectives: (i) identifying the associated technology development; (ii) considering forecast for technologies that would enable the achievement of these scientific objectives; (iii) identifying partnership schemes (space and non-space); and (iv) facilitating the spin-in of top non-space technologies.
The second project is entitled “Towards Human Exploration of Space: a EUropean Strategy” and is dubbed THESEUS. Past space missions in Earth orbit have demonstrated that men can survive
and work in space for long durations. However, there are pending technological, medical and psychological issues to be solved before adventuring in longer duration space missions (protection against ionizing radiation, psychological issues, behaviour and performances, prevention of bone loss, etc). Furthermore technological breakthroughs, e.g. in life support systems and recycling technologies are required to reduce the costs of these expeditions to acceptable levels. Solving these issues will need scientific and technological breakthroughs of interest for clinical and industrial applications and also allow identifying the relevance of these questions to health issues on Earth. Despite existing ESA or NASA studies or roadmaps Europe still has no roadmap approved by the European scientific and industrial communities. The objective of THESEUS is to develop an integrated life sciences research roadmap enabling European human space exploration in synergy with the ESA strategy, taking advantage of the expertise available in Europe and identifying the potential of non space applications and dual research and development:
• Objective 1: Identify disciplinary research priorities;
• Objective 2: Focus on fields with high terrestrial application potential;
• Objective 3: Build a European network as the core of this strategy.
Thus, my experience at the European Science Foundation allows me to broaden my view of the European scientific policies and widely extend my scientific network. Furthermore, such an experience in an Administration of Science is a clear asset for a Scientist in a laboratory.
The European Science Foundation (ESF) provides a platform for its Member Organisations to advance European research and explore new directions for research at the European level.
The European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC) is an Expert Board of the ESF and is its interface with the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, national space agencies, and ESF Member Organisations on space-related aspects.
On behalf of the ESF-ESSC, I supported the peer-review activity related to 5 Research Announcements launched by ESA in 2009. This encompassed an International Life Sciences Research Announcement (experiments on the International Space Station - ISS) where international space agencies (NASA, JAXA, CSA, CNES, ASI, DLR) also participate, and two European Research Announcements in the areas of physical sciences, bed-rest studies, and life sciences preparatory activities not conducted on the ISS. Another announcement of opportunity solicited proposals related to medical, physiological and psychological research using Concordia Antarctic station as human exploration analogue. Finally, I also managed the peer review for continuous research announcements such as proposals of scientific experiments to be carried out in drop towers and in parabolic flights.
Besides these activities, I am also involved in two other projects. The first project, initiated as a request from the European Space Agency (ESA) deals with “Technological breakthroughs for scientific progress” (TechBreak). In space sciences, as well as in “mainstream” science, the development of innovative technologies opens new fields of research and provides sophisticated new tools for scientists. However, the experience of the past decades of space research has demonstrated that a conservative approach to technology is too often followed: self-censorship can be applied regarding space technologies that are not yet fully proven, for fear of losing in competitive assessment phases. This may be partly due to the very long development times in that domain, but the result is that evolution is gradual and breakthroughs do not happen as frequently as they could. This trend is most probably not limited to the space science field. This Forward Look project therefore proposes to address the following topics, on the basis of breakthrough scientific objectives: (i) identifying the associated technology development; (ii) considering forecast for technologies that would enable the achievement of these scientific objectives; (iii) identifying partnership schemes (space and non-space); and (iv) facilitating the spin-in of top non-space technologies.
The second project is entitled “Towards Human Exploration of Space: a EUropean Strategy” and is dubbed THESEUS. Past space missions in Earth orbit have demonstrated that men can survive
and work in space for long durations. However, there are pending technological, medical and psychological issues to be solved before adventuring in longer duration space missions (protection against ionizing radiation, psychological issues, behaviour and performances, prevention of bone loss, etc). Furthermore technological breakthroughs, e.g. in life support systems and recycling technologies are required to reduce the costs of these expeditions to acceptable levels. Solving these issues will need scientific and technological breakthroughs of interest for clinical and industrial applications and also allow identifying the relevance of these questions to health issues on Earth. Despite existing ESA or NASA studies or roadmaps Europe still has no roadmap approved by the European scientific and industrial communities. The objective of THESEUS is to develop an integrated life sciences research roadmap enabling European human space exploration in synergy with the ESA strategy, taking advantage of the expertise available in Europe and identifying the potential of non space applications and dual research and development:
• Objective 1: Identify disciplinary research priorities;
• Objective 2: Focus on fields with high terrestrial application potential;
• Objective 3: Build a European network as the core of this strategy.
Thus, my experience at the European Science Foundation allows me to broaden my view of the European scientific policies and widely extend my scientific network. Furthermore, such an experience in an Administration of Science is a clear asset for a Scientist in a laboratory.