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Dwayne Brown
NASA Headquarters, Washington                  June 17, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1726)

NOTE TO EDITORS: n03-060

NASA TO SHOWCASE SPACE BIOTECHNOLOGY 

     NASA will showcase space health and biotechnology 
research at two major events in Washington next week.

NASA personnel, industry scientists, and astronauts will 
highlight research advancing human exploration of space and 
enhancing health on Earth during Healthfest 2003 on the 
National Mall, June 21-22, and at the BIO 2003 International 
Convention, at the Washington Convention Center, June 22-25. 

NASA's International Space Station exhibit will be on display 
at Healthfest 2003, a free, two-day educational event 
promoting health and biotechnology. Visitors have the 
opportunity to learn about healthcare, the future of 
medicine, and biotechnology. Healthfest participants include 
patient advocacy groups, healthcare providers, volunteer 
health organizations and leading biotechnology companies.

The interactive International Space Station exhibit, 
contained in two 48-foot trailers, shows how astronauts live 
and work in space. Visitors to the exhibit can speak with an 
astronaut who worked on the unique Earth-orbiting laboratory. 
Oscar, a sophisticated robot that actually listens and 
responds to audiences, will also interact with the public.  

BIO 2003 is the world's largest biotechnology industry 
convention that attracts thousands of industry executives, 
scientists and policy makers. NASA personnel, along with 
commercial researchers, will be on hand to answer questions 
concerning biotechnology products and technologies at booths 
2508-2514, June 23-25, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.

On Tuesday, June 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. EDT, a media workshop 
at the Convention Center features NASA and industry partners 
discussing how space research is helping to push space 
biotechnology into new frontiers.

NASA speakers, including Dr. Larry DeLucas, a researcher who 
flew on the Space Shuttle, and Dr. Neal R. Pellis, 
International Space Station Chief Scientist, at the Johnson 
Space Center, Houston, will present space biotechnology 
background, research successes, and plans for the Station. 
Workshop highlights include NASA partnerships with 
biotechnology companies in the areas of drug discovery, 
bioprocessing, robotic technologies for accelerated cell 
production, and space cellular biotechnology. 

Astronaut and physician Dr. Daniel T. Barry, will discuss 
research in space biology at the BIO 2003 closing reception 
at the National Air and Space Museum, June 25, beginning at 
7:30 p.m. EDT. Barry is a veteran of three Space Shuttle 
flights and four spacewalks. 

Media interested in attending events or conducting interviews 
should contact the NASA Public Affairs Office at 202/358-
2585.

For information about NASA on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

For information about space-related research, visit:

http://spaceresearch.nasa.gov/

For information about commercial space research, visit:

http://spd.nasa.gov

For information about Healthfest 2003, visit: 

www.healthfest2003.com

For information about the BIO 2003 conference, visit:

http://bio.org/events/2003/

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