Tauhere UC Connect: Why is Aotearoa sending experiments into Space?

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury’s (UC) next UC Tauhere Connect talk, Why is Aotearoa Sending Experiments into Space?, is on Wednesday night,16 October. 

This free lecture will be delivered by Dr Sarah Kessans, Senior Lecturer in the School of Product Design in UC’s Faculty of Engineering, who sent New Zealand’s first experimental payload to orbit Earth onboard the International Space Station (ISS).  

Dr Kessans’ research facility, which is small enough to fit in your hand*, launched off SpaceX’s Commercial Resupply Mission CRS-30 in March 2024, in an uncrewed mission to the ISS.  

Dr Kessans will share her insights into the fascinating world of space research and exploration, highlighting why Aotearoa New Zealand is actively participating in sending scientific experiments into space. She will discuss her innovative projects and experiments, the scientific objectives behind them, and the potential benefits for both New Zealand and the global community. 

During the talk she will share insights from her own research and collaborations, providing a glimpse into the future of space exploration and its implications for science and society.  

Join us for an evening of discovery and inspiration as we explore the final frontier with one of UC’s leading experts. 

This free event is part of the UC Tauhere Connect series, which aims to foster knowledge sharing and community engagement through public lectures on diverse and impactful topics.  

About the speaker 
With a background in molecular biology and a passion for space science, Dr Sarah Kessans has been at the forefront of several groundbreaking research projects. Her work focuses on leveraging the unique environment of space to advance our understanding of biological processes and develop new technologies. Now a proud Kiwi, Sarah came to New Zealand from the United States, where she earned degrees in plant biology and molecular biology at Arizona State University and worked to develop a plant-based HIV vaccine. Inspired by new perspectives gained during her progression through NASA’s 2017 Astronaut Candidate selection process, Sarah has initiated several projects that gained MBIE support. 

*A unique facility for studying protein crystal growth in space was developed by Dr Kessans at UC’s School of Product Design, in collaboration with Arizona State University and Christchurch companies Asteria Engineering Consultancy and Intranel. SpaceX CRS-30 was funded by NASA and this project was facilitated by Axiom Space and sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory. 

• UC Tauhere Connect public lecture: Why is Aotearoa Sending Experiments into Space? – presented by Dr Sarah Kessans, Senior Lecturer, School of Product Design, UC Engineering, 7pm – 8pm, Wednesday 16 October, Central Lecture Block, Ilam campus, University of Canterbury.  Register to attend free.