IEEE AESS Seminar Microgravity – Experimentation, Health & Manufacturing
Title: Microgravity – Experimentation, Health & Manufacturing
When: Tue 21-Apr-26 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Speaker: Dr. Karyn Jarvis – Swinburne University of Technology
Abstract: Microgravity has moved from niche science to mainstream conversation, thanks to the Artemis mission and the Project Hail Mary movie. This seminar introduces what microgravity actually is and why it matters, exploring how it can be created using ground‑based simulators, short‑duration flight platforms, and orbiting laboratories such as the International Space Station. The talk highlights how microgravity affects the human body and why this is critical for future space missions, before diving into how it’s being used for manufacturing on orbit. Examples such as protein crystallisation for drug development and novel materials processing show how microgravity research is shaping both space exploration and real‑world applications back on Earth.
Bio: Dr. Karyn Jarvis is a Senior Research Engineer at the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), managing their Biointerface Engineering Hub at Swinburne University of technology. With a background in surface modification, characterisation and thin film deposition, she brings extensive experience engineering tailored surface properties for targeted applications. She also oversees ANFF’s suite of microgravity reactors with a particular focus on simulating space conditions to optimise biological experiments for a variety of biotech applications. As part of Swinburne’s Space Technology and Industry Institute, Karyn contributes to the Materials Coating for Space and Microgravity Experimentation research programs.
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