Panellists

In a four-part series, we invited practicing experts - astronauts, spacesuit makers and suppliers from industry - to explore the different aspects of technical garments (PPEs and spacesuits). With technology getting more intertwined with health and wellbeing, from robotic surgery to assistive wearables, the webinar series provides us far-reaching insights into the complexity of technologies for health and wellbeing.

Astronaut Nicole Stott

• NASA Astronaut Veteran, Founder of Space Art Foundation, Artist, Senior Technical Advisor to ILC Dover Inc

Nicole is an astronaut veteran, an aquanaut, a Senior Technical Advisor to ILC Dover Space Systems, an artist and the founder of the Space for Art Foundation. As an astronaut, she has lived and worked in space as a crew member on both the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle for a total of 104 days. Personal highlights of her time in space were performing a spacewalk (10th woman to do so), flying the robotic arm to capture the first HTV, painting a watercolour, working with her crewmates and the ground team on science that is all about improving life on Earth, and of course the view out the window. 

She is also the founder of the Space for Art Foundation, bringing space and art together for children in hospitals and refugee centers around the world by sharing the awe and wonder of space exploration, the inspiration of Spaceship Earth, and the healing power of art. Her first book titled “Back to Earth” is currently in work. 

Daniel J Klopp

• ILC Dover Inc, NASA’s spacesuit (xEMU) maker

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, along with an MBA degree with a concentration in Marketing. He spent the first 18 years of his professional career working for Hewlett Packard Company in a variety of roles with different product lines. After working for several other corporations, Dan joined ILC Dover in the role of Director of Product Marketing with responsibility for ILC Dover’s Space Systems Division and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment Division (along with several other product lines). 

Dan is helping ILC Dover prepare for future human space exploration in low earth orbit and beyond, as well as helping improve the protection of healthcare workers and others working in hazardous environments here on earth. 

Amalina Bakri

• Imperial College London, PhD Clinical Research Fellow 

Dr Amalina Bakri's research focuses on the use of wearable sensors in measuring upper limb activities after breast cancer surgery, early detection of upper limb complications and improve outcome in breast cancer patients. She is originally from Malaysia and moved to the UK at the age of 17 after receiving a prestigious scholarship from the Central Bank of Malaysia. Her journey to become a doctor started with a medical degree (MBChB) at The University of Edinburgh. Followed by a BMedSc in Pharmacology with an ERASMUS exchange at Leiden University, a sub-internship at Harvard Medical School and completed her foundation junior doctor years (F1/F2) and Masters in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Cambridge and started her surgical training in London. She creates awareness about medical misinformation and promotes public health education, creates contents for medical education for trainees as well as advocates for women empowerment.

Astronaut Anne McClain

• NASA Astronaut

Major Anne McClain is a Senior Army Aviator and has logged more than 2,000 flight hours in 20 different rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. She was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. Anne McLain most recently served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 58 and 59. Expedition 59 crew contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science, including investigations into small devices that replicate the structure and function of human organs, editing DNA in space for the first time and recycling 3D-printed material. McClain conducted two spacewalks totalling 13 hours and 8 minutes on her mission into space. She has spent a total of 204 days in space.

Astronaut Nicole Stott

• NASA Astronaut Veteran, Founder of Space Art Foundation, Artist, Senior Technical Advisor to ILC Dover Inc

Nicole is an astronaut, an aquanaut, a Senior Technical Advisor to ILC Dover Space Systems, an artist and the founder of the Space for Art Foundation. As an astronaut, she has lived and worked in space as a crew member on both the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle for a total of 104 days. Personal highlights of her time in space were performing a spacewalk (10th woman to do so), flying the robotic arm to capture the first HTV, painting a watercolour, working with her crewmates and the ground team on science that is all about improving life on Earth, and of course the view out the window. 

She is also the founder of the Space for Art Foundation, bringing space and art together for children in hospitals and refugee centers around the world by sharing the awe and wonder of space exploration, the inspiration of Spaceship Earth, and the healing power of art. Her first book titled “Back to Earth” is currently in work. 

Daniel J Klopp

• ILC Dover Inc, NASA’s spacesuit (xEMU) maker

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, along with an MBA degree with a concentration in Marketing. He spent the first 18 years of his professional career working for Hewlett Packard Company in a variety of roles with different product lines. After working for several other corporations, Dan joined ILC Dover in the role of Director of Product Marketing with responsibility for ILC Dover’s Space Systems Division and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment Division (along with several other product lines). 

Dan is helping ILC Dover prepare for future human space exploration in low earth orbit and beyond, as well as helping improve the protection of healthcare workers and others working in hazardous environments here on earth. 

Dr Arghavan Salles

• Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Arghavan Salles is an Iranian American bariatric surgeon in California. Dr. Salles’ research focuses on gender equity, well-being, and the challenges women face in the workplace. From September 2016 to June 2019 Dr. Salles was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at Washington University, where her lab conducted research on gender bias and inequities in medicine. As well as researching and advocating for equity and inclusion, she is also an activist against sexual harassment in medicine and surgery. During the pandemic she has cared for COVID patients in the ICU in New York and Arizona and has shared her video diaries on WIRED magazine sharing her experiences (including some views on PPE).

Daniel J Klopp

• ILC Dover Inc, NASA’s spacesuit (xEMU) maker

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, along with an MBA degree with a concentration in Marketing. He spent the first 18 years of his professional career working for Hewlett Packard Company in a variety of roles with different product lines. After working for several other corporations, Dan joined ILC Dover in the role of Director of Product Marketing with responsibility for ILC Dover’s Space Systems Division and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment Division (along with several other product lines). 

Dan is helping ILC Dover prepare for future human space exploration in low earth orbit and beyond, as well as helping improve the protection of healthcare workers and others working in hazardous environments here on earth. 

Marie O’Mahony 

• O’Mahony Consultancy and Royal College of Art, author of Advanced Textiles for Health and Wellbeing

Marie O’Mahony is a consultant, full professor and author specialising in smart and advanced textiles. Consultancy work includes reports for government, industry and brands, new material and technology sourcing as well as technical and non-technical writing for content and communication. She is a Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art, London. Books include Advanced Textiles for Health and Well-being, TechnoTextiles 2, TechnoTextiles, Cyborg – The Man Machine and Sportstech all published by Thames and Hudson. Clients include NIKE, VF Corporation and Hussein Chalayan. Marie also serves on a number of industry and academic advisory boards and committees in Europe and North America. 

Dr Thomas Reiter 

• European Space Agency, ESA Interagency Coordinator and Advisor to the Director General

Dr Thomas Reiter is the ESA Interagency Coordinator at the European Space Agency and Advisor to the Director General. In 1992, Dr Reiter was selected to join ESA’s European Astronaut Corps, based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. He was holding the European record of 350 days in space for about 12 years– one of the most experienced non-American or non-Russian astronaut by time and performed several spacewalks (EVAs). After his active astronaut career, Thomas Reiter was named on 8 August 2007 as a member of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center, DLR, responsible for Space Research and Technology. On 1 April 2011, he became Director of ESA’s Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), responsible for managing Europe’s contribution to the ISS, the Agency's human spaceflight activities, the operations of ESA’s satellite missions and of the ground segment. 

Julia Duncan

• Monmouth Scientific, clean room solutions provider 

Julia have always been enthralled by the vast unknowns of the ocean and space, she is volunteering with the National Sea Rescue Institute. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social science and a postgraduate degree in marketing management. She joined Monmouth Scientific in 2018 as a technical sales specialist. Her role allows her to focus on what makes people tick when exploring new territories. Specifically, she device service offerings for clean air solutions and products for aerospace, marine life, artwork conservation, data centres, the military, medical labs, etc. Creating a great service offering is particularly rewarding as it requires an understanding the need of the end users, a clear understanding of the fundamental principals in creating clean environments, the ability negotiate and bridge the gap between users, engineers and principles of clean environments. Julia is presently working on Monmouth’s work on assisting the COVID research teams in supplying Class II Micro Biological Safety Cabinets.

Daniel J Klopp

• ILC Dover Inc, NASA’s spacesuit (xEMU) maker

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, along with an MBA degree with a concentration in Marketing. He spent the first 18 years of his professional career working for Hewlett Packard Company in a variety of roles with different product lines. After working for several other corporations, Dan joined ILC Dover in the role of Director of Product Marketing with responsibility for ILC Dover’s Space Systems Division and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment Division (along with several other product lines). 

Dan is helping ILC Dover prepare for future human space exploration in low earth orbit and beyond, as well as helping improve the protection of healthcare workers and others working in hazardous environments here on earth. 

Astronaut Richard Linnehan

• NASA Johnson Space Center, Astronaut

Dr. Richard M. Linnehan was selected as an astronaut in 1992. The Massachusetts native has a Bachelor of Science from the University of New Hampshire, a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He flew aboard STS-78, STS-90, STS-109 and STS-123. STS-78 delivered the Life Sciences and Microgravity Spacelab combining microgravity studies and life sciences. STS-90 was a Spacelab mission where 26 experiments were performed. STS-109 was the fourth Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. STS-123 delivered the Japanese Experiment Logistics Module - Pressurized Section. Dr. Linnehan currently splits his time between the Astronaut Office Exploration and Integration branches and the NASA Institutional Review Board (IRB) and JSC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).