Dwayne Brown<br />NASA Headquarters, Washington June 17, 2003<br />(Phone: 202/358-1726)<br /><br /><br />NOTE TO EDITORS: n03-060<br /><br /><br />NASA TO SHOWCASE SPACE BIOTECHNOLOGY <br /><br /><br /> NASA will showcase space health and biotechnology <br />research at two major events in Washington next week.<br /><br /><br />NASA personnel, industry scientists, and astronauts will <br />highlight research advancing human exploration of space and <br />enhancing health on Earth during Healthfest 2003 on the <br />National Mall, June 21-22, and at the BIO 2003 International <br />Convention, at the Washington Convention Center, June 22-25. <br /><br /><br />NASA's International Space Station exhibit will be on display <br />at Healthfest 2003, a free, two-day educational event <br />promoting health and biotechnology. Visitors have the <br />opportunity to learn about healthcare, the future of <br />medicine, and biotechnology. Healthfest participants include <br />patient advocacy groups, healthcare providers, volunteer <br />health organizations and leading biotechnology companies.<br /><br /><br />The interactive International Space Station exhibit, <br />contained in two 48-foot trailers, shows how astronauts live <br />and work in space. Visitors to the exhibit can speak with an <br />astronaut who worked on the unique Earth-orbiting laboratory. <br />Oscar, a sophisticated robot that actually listens and <br />responds to audiences, will also interact with the public. <br /><br /><br />BIO 2003 is the world's largest biotechnology industry <br />convention that attracts thousands of industry executives, <br />scientists and policy makers. NASA personnel, along with <br />commercial researchers, will be on hand to answer questions <br />concerning biotechnology products and technologies at booths <br />2508-2514, June 23-25, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.<br /><br /><br />On Tuesday, June 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. EDT, a media workshop <br />at the Convention Center features NASA and industry partners <br />discussing how space research is helping to push space <br />biotechnology into new frontiers.<br /><br /><br />NASA speakers, including Dr. Larry DeLucas, a researcher who <br />flew on the Space Shuttle, and Dr. Neal R. Pellis, <br />International Space Station Chief Scientist, at the Johnson <br />Space Center, Houston, will present space biotechnology <br />background, research successes, and plans for the Station. <br />Workshop highlights include NASA partnerships with <br />biotechnology companies in the areas of drug discovery, <br />bioprocessing, robotic technologies for accelerated cell <br />production, and space cellular biotechnology. <br /><br /><br />Astronaut and physician Dr. Daniel T. Barry, will discuss <br />research in space biology at the BIO 2003 closing reception <br />at the National Air and Space Museum, June 25, beginning at <br />7:30 p.m. EDT. Barry is a veteran of three Space Shuttle <br />flights and four spacewalks. <br /><br /><br />Media interested in attending events or conducting interviews <br />should contact the NASA Public Affairs Office at 202/358-<br />2585.<br /><br /><br />For information about NASA on the Internet, visit:<br /><br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov<br /><br /><br />For information about space-related research, visit:<br /><br /><br />http://spaceresearch.nasa.gov/<br /><br /><br />For information about commercial space research, visit:<br /><br /><br />http://spd.nasa.gov<br /><br /><br />For information about Healthfest 2003, visit: <br /><br /><br />www.healthfest2003.com<br /><br /><br />For information about the BIO 2003 conference, visit:<br /><br /><br />http://bio.org/events/2003/