Media Releases

(Halifax, NS) - Dalhousie University is please to congratulate those alumni currently under consideration for the Canadian Space Agency’s astronaut recruitment campaign. The agency recently published the latest numbers of candidates. Out of 72 candidates, 9 candidates are Dalhousie alumni. Two of the candidates will be Canada’s next astronauts.

“I have always been inspired by space and the astronauts who explore it,” says Dalhousie President Dr. Richard Florizone. “So I was thrilled to see so many Dalhousie Alumni in the running to be part of such a prestigious program. Congratulations and best of luck. You make us proud.”

According to the Canadian Space Agency, these modern day explorers share a number of qualities; they have an academic background in science or technology, are in great health and have “outstanding qualities and skills.” Here’s a complete listing of the extraordinary Dalhousie alumni currently in the running:

Scott Bishop (BSc, MEng)
After completing two degrees at Dal (Kinesiology and Mechanical Engineering), Scott is currently in the third year of his PhD in aerospace engineering at Carleton University. Born in Middleton, NS and based in Halifax (where he teaches at Saint Mary’s University), he is working on a finite element model that can identify damage in a composite aerospace structure using ultrasonic Lamb waves. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/profiles.asp?bishop-scott

Brendan Craig Dickson (BSc, MSc)
Dr. Dickson is a Halifax-born clinician-scientist based in Toronto, with three Dalhousie degrees: undergrads in both Biology and Microbiology/Immunology as well as in Psychology, with a master’s in Experimental Psychology. A physician specializing in pathology, his research focuses on novel ways to diagnose, prognoses and potentially treat diseases of bone and soft tissue. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/profiles.asp?dickson-brendan

Cordell Grant (BEng)
Born in Sydney, NS, Grant completed his Mechanical Engineering degree at Dalhousie. He’s presently chief operating officer at Sinclair Interplanetary, where he designs and builds communications and attitude determination & control hardware for spacecraft. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/profiles.asp?grant-cordell

William Shane Journeay (MD)
A Dalhousie medicine grad, originally from Liverpool, NS, Journeay is a consultant physician in Toronto. He works as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team helping patients with injuries to the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/profiles.asp?journeay-william

Olathe MacIntryre (BSc)
The Stillwater, Oklahoma native is currently staff scientist at the Space Place and Planetarium at Science North in Sudbury, Ont. A Dalhousie Biology graduate, she helps deliver science programs in the community and develop exhibits and science experiences for visitors that are both entertaining and educational. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/profiles.asp?macintyre-olathe

Robert Riddell (MD)
Originally from Belleville, Ont., Dr. Robert Riddell is currently a physician in the Canadian Armed Forces. A graduate of Dalhousie's Faculty of Medicine, he says becoming an astronaut would allow him to draw on his unique experiences as a military officer and rural physician.

Kharim Schliewinsky (MD)
Dr. Schliewinsky is a medical officer in the Canadian military, caring for Canadian military members as well as American military members and their families posted in Ottawa. With a degree from Dalhousie Medical School, he focuses largely on occupational medicine with a specialty in assessing military divers and their fitness — fitting, given diving is one of his passions. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/profiles.asp?schliewinsky-kharim  

Kevin Spencer (MD)
Dr. Spencer is a faculty member and director of simulation education in Dalhousie’s Department of Emergency Medicine. In addition to teaching medical students and other physicians, he works in the emergency department of Dartmouth General Hospital as a staff physician. Dr. Spencer, originally from New Glasgow, NS, also has an engineering degree from the former Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dal’s Faculty of Engineering) and he’s in the process of developing a biotechnology start-up company. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/profiles.asp?spencer-kevin

Gavin Tansley
Dr. Tansley is completing his residency in general surgery at Dalhousie, providing surgical care of all sorts to patients in Halifax and across the province. He also has a master’s degree in medical research from Dalhousie. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/profiles.asp?tansley-gavin   

For updates on the selection process and more on the candidates, visit the Canadian Space Agency site for more information.

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Media Contact:
Janet Bryson
Dalhousie University
902-494-1269