Q&A Session with Emily Holton

Q: What kind of flight projects do you do?

A: As a principal investigator, I participated in unmanned satellites that
   contained rats and were launched by the Russians and I was fortunate to
   travel to Russia on multiple occasions; those studies focused on the
   influence of spaceflight on bone growth and development.  On the US
   shuttle, I participated in the Space Life Sciences dedicated missions
   (SLS1 and SLS2) expanding on data from the Russian missions.  On
   these flight projects, I had the good fortune of working with the
   astronauts and with wonderful investigators from other institutions
   throughout the world.  I have also flown several shuttle middeck
   lockers with either rats or rat bone cells.  As a manager, I now
   oversee all Life Sciences flight projects that are done at Ames, but no
   longer do my own projects.


Q: Can you describe a problem you are working to solve i.e. an example of
   an actual project?

A: I'm currently interested in the importance of gravity on bone growth and
   development.  We investigate increased gravity (centrifugation) as well as
   space flight effects. We've learned a lot about bone and the importance of
   loading, but many questions remain and we are moving from the whole animal
   into cell culture and molecular biology where we can differentiate effects
   directly on the cells from those on integrated bone tissue.  Research is a
   continuum--series of experiments that lead to other experiments, but each
   experiment is important.  We are currently writing up the results of
   some of our initial experiments on rats raised at 2xGravity for 2
   weeks and have found some very exciting and unexpected bone changes.


Q: Do you find that attending so many meetings hampers your productivity?

A: Depends on the meetings and your definition of productivity.  Lab meetings
   tend to enhance research productivity as long as they are short and to the
   point as such meeting help the staff to understand the current research
   focus and progress of each member.  Management meetings tend to hamper
   research productivity, but are essential for management productivity.
   Two different products.


Q:  Do you have any kids?

A:  Sure do, I have a 24yr old daughter.


Q: How do you balance free time with your work, especially with lab work or
   experiments which may last into late shifts?

A: Very poorly.  During the week, I dedicate my life to my job and often work
   12-16hr.  However, with advance planning, I can take an evening for the
   theater or other arty leisure. Also, I try to spend one night a month
   with the people in my lab discussing research over pizza. My weekends
   are for relaxing in the garden, walking, reading fiction, and enjoying
   friends and family.


Q: What are some ideas you have for us about improving female enrollment in
   math and science classes and careers?

A: Female minds tend to be very inquisitive.  It's an inquisitive mind that
   makes a great scientist.  That's the message that we need to get across.


Q: You said in your bio. that "In my former life..."  What do you mean by
   "former life"?

A: I lovingly refer to "my former life" as my position as a researcher with
   an active lab.  I am currently a manager of a large division that
   requires very different skills and focus.


Q: What is your opinions on whether we should push for all female math
   classes?

A: I'm not sure about math classes, but the PBS series on physics and females
   convinced me that as long as there is diversity in raising children, then
   certain hard science classes should be taught with that diversity in
   mind.  Females raised to be housewives should be taught science
   differently than females raised to be mechanics.  So, it depends on
   the female--some do better competing among members of the same sex
   while others like competition with anyone.


Q: What are some of the most interesting things you have learned about
   gravity?

A:  I have learned that people on Earth have what I call a "1G mentality".
    That means that we subconsciously use gravity in our daily lives.
    Many of the reflexes in humans develop to oppose gravity, such as
    reflexes required for standing erect, walking, throwing and catching
    a ball, etc.; these reflexes degrade in space as you cannot "fall on
    your face" and gravity creates an arc to the flight of a ball on
    Earth.  I am very curious to know if these reflexes would even
    develop in a mammal born and raised in space with minimal gravity
    input.  I'm fascinated by the plasticity of physiological systems (bone,
    nerves, muscle) in their ability to adapt to differences in loading 
    in a very efficient manner--during spaceflight, bones appear to
    restructure to efficiently adapt to the change in loading, gravity
    receptors in the inner ear increase the number of nerve connections 
    (synapses) probably as a means of amplifying a smaller gravity 
    signal, etc. (these changes are similar to the "Use it or Lose it 
    Hypothesis that also works for many physiological systems on Earth).

    About 40% of the equipment that goes into space does not work the first
    time; the main reasons are lack of convection currents to carry heat
    away from equipment, fluid flow, and gravity-related problems (for
    example, gravity-requiring drain valves).

    Since gravity is ubiquitous on Earth, we had no reason to consider it a
    major physiological factor until we were able to access space where
    the loads are far less.  We're certainly learning much more about the
    importance of gravity to life on Earth through these experiments as
    well as gaining an understanding of how life might evolve with
    decreased gravity.


Q: What are the biggest drawbacks?

A: The length of time between spaceflight missions and the amount of effort
   required for a single flight experiment.  However, I considered these
   minor flaws in an otherwise incredible career.


Q:  What are the side effects to people that live in space with no gravity?

A:  The most bothersome side effect appears to be the redistribution of
    fluid with more fluid in the head.  This shift seems to be perceived
    by many crewmembers as a "stuffy head" or sinus infection and
    crewmembers take many decongestants to try to eliminate the
    discomfort.  Another interesting phenomena is the lack of
    pressure--no such thing as laying on a bed and feeling the  pressure of
    your body against the mattress because you float.  Most of the changes
    that occur in space are adaptive and no problem if you stay in
    space.  It's coming back to Earth and a gravity environment that
    might be a problem after fully adapting to an environment with
    minimal gravitational loading.


Q: What one thing could you say to young women to encourage them to
   become pharmacologists?

A: Pharmacology is a fascinating field that allows one to branch out into
   many different disciplines.  If you want to do multidisciplinary
   research, then take pharmacology.  A pharmacologist studies the
   effects of drugs on living systems (maybe that why studying the effect of
   gravity on living systems is an easy transition).  A pharmacologist
   must understand not only drug categories, but the complex actions and
   interactions of drugs on multiple systems; this understanding requires
   knowledge of biochemistry, microbiology, microanatomy, and physiology
   (most of the basic medical sciences).  It teaches you how to do
   research in a structured manner.  I highly recommend pharmacology as a
   career for women.


Q:  What is very inspiring about your work?

A:  Dreaming dreams that may become reality.  NASA is now very interested in
    exploration of space.  The space station will provide our very first long
    duration facility to study biological changes over generations.  This
    has not been possible in the history of humans.  Gravity has been the
    most constant environmental force throughout evolution and it is
    impossible to decrease gravity on Earth for extended periods of
    time.  Thus, we know very little about the importance of gravity in
    growth, development, and maturation.  For example, many of our
    reflexes developed in infancy, keep us from falling down.

    In space, there is no up or down and so would these reflexes even
    develop? Our muscles and bones are built to withstand the loads
    imposed by gravity--what would they look like if species developed in
    space?  Etc., etc.

    As we learn more about the effect of gravity on biological systems, it
    appears as though life without gravity will produce species that may
    look very different than those on Earth.  I was very fortunate to
    obtain rat bone samples from some of the first long duration (~3wk)
    Russian unmanned biosatellites and analyze precious specimens
    available to few people in the world.


Q: What do you find the most rewarding in this kind of work?

A: The ability to focus on research that is of importance to future
   generations and to set the pace for the next generation of Gravitational
   Life Sciences.  To be able to stimulate young minds and convince them
   of the excitement and importance of science careers.