Dr. Roberta Bondar

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 led an international research team working with NASA on neurological symptoms observed 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 that feature her writing and photography.

Dr. Bondar continues to use fine art photography to explore and reveal Earth’s natural environment from multiple perspectives. In her current project, "Protecting Space for Birds," she integrates views from space, surface, and aerial perspectives to provide insight into the habitats needed to protect endangered and threatened birds. Dr. Bondar’s distinctions include Companion of the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, the NASA Space Medal, and induction into both the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Forum’s Hall of Fame. She has received 28 honorary doctorates from Canadian and American universities and served as the Chancellor of Trent University from 2003 to 2009. Dr. Bondar has her own star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.