NASA and LAUNCH.org Partnership


Hello, as the Director, Space Life Sciences I’d like to inform you about a new NASA initiative called LAUNCH.  LAUNCH is a partnership among the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Nike, the U.S. State Department, and NASA aimed at identifying and stimulating innovations that impact global and space flight issues.  The LAUNCH partners have mutual interests in solving problems in challenging environments, and each brings different expertise to the partnership.   The first LAUNCH event in late 2009 focused on discerning suitable ways of providing clean drinking water which resulted in innovations that are being considered for use on the International Space Station and on Earth.

The LAUNCH theme this year is human health.  To facilitate participation, the LAUNCH partners selected an open innovation platform, InnoCentive, to post a challenge that seeks preventive measures to improve human health via nutrition, exercise and diagnostics.  The challenge and additional information can be found at https://gw.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/9625880.  We encourage all to submit your ideas to address these important issues—the challenge closes September 13th so you must provide your ideas for health innovations soon.  You may be selected to attend the LAUNCH event in Orlando, including attending a space shuttle launch, in late October to present your innovation!

—–
Jeff Davis, Director, Space Life Sciences

LAUNCH Partnership

Space Life Sciences BarCamp

What Is It?
An unconference.

BarCamp is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment.  It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from attendees.  There is no need to pre-register in advance.

When Is It?
Friday, August 27
NASA Gilruth Facility
Houston, Texas 77058
9:00a to 3:00p

BarCampers will arrive at 8:00 am and choose a timeslot to present.  Sessions will start at 9:00 am and run 30 minutes, with each presenter taking roughly 20 minutes to share an idea and 10 minutes to answer questions.  Presenters are self-selected and everyone is invited to share their work and brainstorming – prepared slides or presentations are not required but are welcome.  BarCamp will break for lunch and resume in the afternoon with more sessions.  If there is enough interest, we will break out in to two parallel sessions.

The Theme
“Collaboration” — but the details are up to you…

The sessions will be loosely themed around collaboration, but topics may include: research ideas, science and technology breakthroughs, innovative collaborations, strategic planning, the future of humans in space, or whatever your interest is.

Can I Attend?
Yes, please join us!

This event is hosted by the Space Life Sciences Directorate and is open to anyone (civil servant or contractor), including in and outside thinkers from all disciplines of the space community, who are passionate about what they do and are eager to share with others.

We hope to see you there!

@SLSDBarCamp Planning Team