Spaceflight stresses the human body in ways we can’t replicate on Earth. In orbit, we observe rapid bone and muscle loss, a weakened immune system, and biological processes that resemble accelerated aging.
Â
Drawing on her International Space Station research, including the first DNA sequencing performed in orbit, Dr. Kate Rubins explores how portable sequencing and other tools help translate discoveries made in space into insight for aging and chronic disease on Earth.
In-person attendance option
Â
This registration is for virtually attendance via Zoom webinar. If you would prefer to attend this program in-person at The Linda Hall, please follow this link to register:
Â
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE
About the Bartlett Lecture
Â
The Linda Hall's annual Paul D. Bartlett, Sr. Lecture was established in 2003 to bring the finest university professors to speak on subjects related to the Library´s collections. Paul D. Bartlett, Sr. was the first chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Linda Hall. Under his leadership the Halls’ bequest for the creation of a public library in Kansas City was used to establish this library devoted to science, engineering, and technology. Mr. Bartlett served on the Board until his death in 1964.
Â
The Paul D. Bartlett, Sr. Lecture is presented in association with the Yale Club of Kansas City, the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Kansas City, and the Princeton Alumni Association of Greater Kansas City.
Professor of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, and
Director, Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine
Kate Rubins is a world-renowned expert in molecular and cellular biology for use in low-Earth orbit and low-resource environments. At Stanford, she co-developed the first smallpox animal model and genomic tools for high-consequence viral diseases. At MIT, she mapped the poxvirus transcriptome and led mpox fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Â
While serving as a NASA astronaut from 2009-2025, Dr. Rubins led the development of molecular techniques for human health in space and served as Deputy Director for NASAÂ Health and Human Performance. Her 300 days on the International Space Station included four spacewalks, the first DNA sequencing in space, and microgravity research on cardiomyocytes, organoids, and synthetic biology.
Â
Professor Rubins received a BS in molecular biology from the University of California, San Diego, and a PhD in cancer biology from Stanford University Medical School.
