Oct. 5, 2017
Flying Really High: The path to becoming an astronaut
webinar
Hear directly from celebrated astronaut and former UCalgary chancellor, Dr. Robert Thirsk, about how he made his dreams of becoming an astronaut a reality.
Holder of the Canadian record for the longest time spent in space, at 204 days, 18 hours, Dr. Thirsk shares his experiences in space and what budding astronauts should be considering as they reach for the stars.
About the Speaker
Former Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk, MD, was the 13th chancellor of the University of Calgary, serving from May 2014 to June 2018. Besides conferring degrees, the chancellor serves as the main link between the University and its local community. Thirsk is a member of the Order of British Columbia and an Officer of the Order of Canada. During his missions aboard the space shuttle Columbia and the International Space Station, Thirsk and his crewmates performed multidisciplinary research, robotic operations and maintenance tasks. Thirsk is a strong promoter of an economy based on exploration and innovation. He encourages Canadians to build their career dreams upon an educational foundation, advanced skills and lifelong learning. He works with organizations and educators to develop space-related curricula that introduce young people to the wonder of scientific discovery.