Women in space
Roberta Bondar
BIRTHPLACE and DATE:
Born December 4, 1945, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
CURRENT STATUS:
CIBC Distinguished Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, The University of Western
Ontario Distinguished Professor, Centre for Advanced Technology and Education
(CATE), Ryerson Polytechnic University; Visiting Research Scholar, Department
of Neurology, University of New Mexico; Visiting Research Scientist, Universities
Space Research Association (NASA), Johnson Space Centre, Houston, Texas. She
is also a motivational speaker on various space and non-space related topics.
Dr. Roberta Bondar left the Canadian Space Agency effective September 4, 1992,
to pursue her research.
EXPERIENCE:
Dr. Bondar is a neurologist and researcher. After internship in internal medicine
at Toronto General Hospital, she completed post-graduate medical training
in neurology at the University of Western Ontario; neuro-ophthalmology at
Tuft’s New England Medical Centre (Boston) and at the Playfair Neuroscience
Unit of Toronto Western Hospital; Carotid Doppler and Transcranial Doppler
at the Pacific Vascular Institute, in Seattle, Washington, 1988. Appointed
assistant professor of medicine (neurology), McMaster University, 1982-84;
Scientific staff, Sunnybrook Medical Centre, Toronto, 1988-present; Visiting
Research Scholar, Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico, 1993-94,
Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, 1992-1994;
Distinguished Professor, CATE, Ryerson, 1992-present; Visiting Distinguished
Fellow, Department Of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University,
1993-94; Visiting Distinguished Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, The University
of Western Ontario, 1994-1996. CIBC Distinguished Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology,
University of Western Ontario, 1996-1998.
She was one of the six original Canadian astronauts selected in December, 1983 and began astronaut training in February, 1984. She served as chairperson of the Canadian Life Sciences Subcommittee for Space Station from 1985 to 1989, and as a member of the Ontario Premier’s Council on Science and Technology from 1988 to 1989. In early 1990, she was designated a prime Payload Specialist for the first International Microgravity Laboratory Mission (IML-1). Dr. Bondar flew on the space shuttle Discovery during Mission STS-42, January 22-30, 1992 where she performed life science and material science experiments in the Spacelab and on the middeck.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES:
Principal investigator,
Transcranial Doppler in Patients with Orthostatic Intolerance, University
of New Mexico, Deaconess Hospital, Boston;
Principal investigator, Transcranial Doppler in Astronauts Before and After
Space Flight, Johnson Space Centre, Edwards Air Force Base, and Kennedy Space
Centre;
Author, Touching the Earth, Key Porter Books, Toronto, Ontario;
EDUCATION:
Attended elementary and secondary school in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Received
a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology and agriculture from the University
of Guelph in 1968, a Master of Science degree in experimental pathology from
the University of Western Ontario in 1971, a doctorate in neurobiology from
the University of Toronto in 1974, a Doctor of Medicine degree from McMaster
University in 1977 and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Canada as a specialist in neurology in 1981. She has certification
in scuba diving, parachuting, and holds a private pilot's license. Honors
student in professional nature photography (Brooks Institute of Photography,
Santa Barbara, California).
HONOURS:
Awarded an Ontario Graduate Fellowship in 1971, a National Research Council
(NRC) Scholarship from 1971-74, an NRC Postdoctorate Fellowship in 1974, an
Ontario Ministry of Health Fellowship in 1981, a Medical Research Council
Fellowship in 1981 and a Career Scientist Award from the Ontario Ministry
of Health in 1982. She was named honorary member of Zonta International in
1984 and of the Canadian Federation of University Women in 1985. She won the
Vanier Award for her selection as an outstanding young Canadian by the Jaycees
of Canada in 1985. She was co-recipient of the F.W. (Casey) Baldwin Award
in 1985 for the best paper in the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Journal and
was made honourary life member of Girl Guides of Canada in 1986. She has been
awarded honorary degree of: D.Sc., Mount Allison University, Sackville, New
Brunswick, 1989; D.Hum.L., Mount St. Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
1990; Senior Fellowship from Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, Toronto, Ontario,
1990; D.Sc., University of Guelph, 1990; D.Sc., Lakehead University, Thunder
Bay, Ontario, 1991; D.Sc., Algoma College, Laurentian University, Sault Ste.
Marie, Ontario, 1991; D.Sc., Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, 1992;
D.Sc., McMaster University, Hamilton, 1992; L.L.D. University of Regina, Regina,
1992; L.L.D., University of Calgary, Calgary; D.U., University of Ottawa,
1992; D.Sc., University of Toronto, Toronto, 1992; D.Sc., McGill University,
Montreal, 1992; D.Sc., York University, Toronto, 1992; D.Sc., Carleton University,
Ottawa, 1993; D.S.L., Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, Toronto, 1993;
D.Sc., Royal Roads military College, 1993; D.Sc., Memorial University, St.
John’s, 1993; D.Sc., Laval University, 1993; D.Sc., University of Montreal,
Montreal, 1994, D.Sc., University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown,
1994; D. Sc., University of Western Ontario, 1995; Honorary Doctoral Degree,
Niagara University, 1997, New York.
SPECIAL HONOURS:
She is the recipient of the following awards: Officer of the Order of Canada;
the Order of Ontario; Canada 125 Medal; NASA's Space Medal; Hubertus Strughold
Award, Space Medicine Branch, Aerospace Medicine Association; Award Of Merit,
University of Western Ontario; Medaille de L’Excellence, L’Association
des Medecins de Langue Francaise du Canada; La Personalite de L’Annee
1992, La Presse; 1993 Alumnus of the Year, University of Guelph. Outstanding
Canadian, Armenian Community Centre of Toronto; YWCA Woman of Distinction
Award, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Kurt Hahn Award, Outward Bound; 1992 Paul
Harris, Recognition Award, Rotary Club of Ancaster, Inductee into the Hamilton
Gallery of Distinction. Honorary Life Member of the Canadian Federation of
University Women, Girl Guides of Canada, Federation of Medical Women of Canada,
Science North, and Zonta International. Honorary Member of I’Association
des Medecins de Langue Francaise du Canada, Bootmakers of Canada, Canadian
Association for Women in Science and the Canadian Aviation Historical Society.
Honorary Patron for the World Congress of Neurology (Vancouver), Canadian
Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Mission Air Transportation
Network, Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Young Scientists of Canada, The
Aphasia Centre (North York) and the Ontario Parks Association. She is Honourary
Chairperson for The Canadian Coalition for Quality Daily Physical Education,
Women’s Soccer Competition, World Student Games and The Parkinson Foundation
of Canada. She is Honorary Colonel of the 22nd Wing, Canadian Armed Forces,
Homell Heights, Ontario and Honorary Director of Save Our North Atlantic Resources
and the Canadian Space & Technology Centre, London.
HONOURS IN NAME OF ROBERTA
LYNN BONDAR:
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Fellowship, Queen Elizabeth
Public School Resource Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Alex Muir Public School Resource
Centre, Sault Ste. Marie; Trophy for Outstanding Male and Female Athlete of
the Year, Sir James Dunn Collegiate and Vocational School, Sault Ste. Marie;
Roberta Bondar Gymnasium, Sir James Dunn Collegiate and Vocational School,
Sault Ste. Marie; Soo College Scholarship, Sault Ste. Marie; Sir James Dunn
Collegiate and Vocational School Scholarship, Sault Ste. Marie; Bawating Collegiate
and Vocational School Scholarship, Sault Ste. Marie; Girl Guides of Canada
Scholarship; Province of Ontario Science and Technology Awards; USS Bondar,
The Guelph Trek Club; Roberta Bondar Earth and Space Centre, Seneca College;
Place Roberta Bondar Place - Province of Ontario, Sault Ste. Marie; YWCA Scholarship,
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Roberta Bondar Rose, Hortico Nurseries. Roberta
Bondar School Ottawa, Ont; Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School, Ajax, Ont.; Dr.
Roberta L. Bondar Elementary School, Abbotsford, British Columbia.
ORGANIZATIONS:
Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and member of the
American Academy of Neurology, the Canadian Neurological Society, the Canadian
Aeronautics and Space Institute, The Canadian Society of Aerospace Medicine,
the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the Canadian Stroke Society,
the Aerospace Medical Association, the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association,
American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology, the Association for
Space Explorers, the Canadian Society of Aerospace Medicine, Greater Albuquerque
Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, Ontario Medical Association,
Canadian Association of Sports Medicine, North American Nature Photographers
Association.
RECREATIONAL INTEREST:
Dr. Bondar enjoys flying, hot air ballooning, canoeing, biking, target shooting
(rifle, handgun), fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking and photography.