NAME:Maia Gummer
ROLE: Student – Medicine and Space physiology and Health MSc
FAVOURITE AIRCRAFT:
Twitter Handle: @Maia_Space
What is your role in aerospace medicine?
I am currently a Master’s student at King’s College London, studying Space Physiology and Health. Alongside my studies I am part of an all-female aerospace medicine research and outreach team called ‘The Paraboladies’, act as a STEM ambassador, and am a Volunteer Reserve with the Royal Air Force on the University of London Air Squadron (ULAS).
How Did You First Get Interested in This Field?
Prior to my MSc, I completed my BSc in Human Sciences at University College London, an interdisciplinary life sciences based degree. Several of my electives were in Physiology, including a module in Space Medicine and Extreme Environment Physiology in my final year. This sparked my interest and allowed me to bridge the gap between my background in biology and the aerospace field.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?
I visited the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine with ULAS where I met other interested students, chat to aviation doctors about my MSc application, and see aerospace medicine in a working environment. This encouraged me to pursue my interest in the field, and was also where I met the other Paraboladies.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE TO TEN YEARS?
I’d like to take an unusual path, and attempt to bridge the gap between science and business in the sector of bioconsulting. Scientific progression is too often hindered by financial issues, as well as general misunderstanding between the two professions. My Bachelor’s and postgraduate studies have given me an in-depth understanding of the practice of life science research, and optimising scientific research in the field of aerospace medicine is important to me. Particularly in the current climate of frequent air travel and the dawn of long-duration space missions.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS?
The community is welcoming and friendly, so don’t be afraid to reach out to people and politely ask for help or guidance. Social media, in particular Twitter, is a great place to do this, you can network and keep in the know about new developments in the field. Also, aerospace medicine is far broader than one would first believe, there will usually be some obscure branch that suits your niche interest!
What IS ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS IN AEROSPACE MEDICINE SO FAR?
From personal experience, presenting at my first international conference (ISDC 2019) on the pre-flight medical checks for suborbital space tourism was the highlight! It was great to discuss our work with people who were genuinely interested and wanted to learn more. In terms of milestones in the field, I obviously loved reading the Garrett-Bakelman paper on the NASA twin study, this was such a huge step towards understanding how aerospace environments change us on a molecular level.