Dr. Jeffrey R. Alberts This is Me

Education

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1. 1. Handedness Research Institute | P e o p l e

   www.handedness.org/people.html - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/6/2008   Last Visited: 3/6/2008

   Jeffrey R. Alberts, Ph.D. Dr. Alberts is Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. His research is in the field of developmental psychobiology and related areas of gravitational and space biology. Specifically, he studies the ontogeny of species-typical behavior in rodents, with emphases on their thermal physiology, olfactory abilities, and social environment. Since 1983 he has participated in a wide range of space biololgy activities research, from the unmanned Soviet Cosmos satellite to Space Shuttle projects. Dr. Alberts' company, STAR Enterprises, Inc. is designing the Advanced Animal Habitat for the International Space Station. From 1986 to 1991 he was editor of the journal, Developmental Psychobiology and is a past president of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology. He has received numerous grants and awards from the National Institutes of Health, including Research Scientist Development Award, and the MERIT award.

2. 2. Stone Age Institute

   www.stoneageinstitute.org/S.A. - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/25/2006   Last Visited: 10/25/2006

   Jeffrey Alberts, Associate Vice President for Research

3. 3. HoosierTimes: 'Benefits are well worth the risks,' professor says

   www.hoosiertimes.com/stories/t - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/2/2003   Last Visited: 2/3/2003

   Indiana University psychologist Jeff Alberts said his reaction to the news of the space shuttle Columbia tragedy Saturday was "very sobering - probably like it was for almost everyone, but more intense."
   
   Alberts has closer ties to NASA than most people. He has worked closely with the agency and the space shuttle crews in particular. In the mid-1990s, he led research teams that sent animal experiments up with the Atlantis 66 and 70 flights.
   
   Alberts said he e-mailed some of his colleagues at NASA Saturday but hadn't spoken with any of them yet.
   
   Alberts and his team are currently working on constructing a habitat for rodents in space. The equipment was expected to be operational by 2007, but Alberts said he doubts NASA will adhere to that schedule now.
   
   Alberts did not have experiments on the Columbia for this flight. He said the impact of the disaster will be felt throughout NASA and the science community.
   
   "It will be very sobering for them, but it will bring them together," he said. "It is a safety- oriented agency, so this will hit them hard. It won't be demoralizing, but it is certainly going to be a difficult time."
   
   In his work with NASA, Alberts became aware of the agency's focus on safety.
   
   "Safety is a huge concern, but that's not specific to NASA," he said. "It's long been a part of the aerospace culture, and it's something that NASA absorbed."
   
   Alberts said his memories of work with the space shuttle involve "inspections and reinspections."
   
   "For everything we put on the shuttle, there were all sorts of safety procedures," he said. "The few times I was anywhere near the shuttle, safety is of paramount importance. You can't get near it without having your wristwatches removed and your rings taped to your fingers. You can't touch any of the tiles. It's a very, very closely regulated procedure."
   
   Alberts acknowledged that he is concerned about disasters such as Saturday's casting a negative light on space exploration.
   
   "I do worry about that," he said. "It is a high risk enterprise. Even though some aspects of it seem routine, these are pioneering ventures every time they go up. While I would never encourage that an agency become bold to the point of being reckless, I would hate to see NASA retract and retreat from what they are doing. I think the reality of the cultural gains and the scientific gains are huge."
   
   ...
   Alberts said those gains outweigh the risks and the financial loss.
   
   "It's dangerous, of course. And, there are ways of doing fiscal accounting that show the cost of scientific data from the shuttle are far more expensive than that gathered from any other research. But, there's more to the program than the cost and risks. I do think the benefits are well worth the risks."
   
   Asked about those benefits, Alberts pointed to children.
   
   "When you watch children's responses to space exploration, their interest in the science, the teamwork and the cooperation, that shows something," he said. "You have to factor in the excitement of the exploration, and the cultural benefits it brings."
   
   Alberts and his research team will continue to work on their equipment, but he doubts things will proceed on schedule now.
   
   "We are actively engaged in constructing space station equipment, so we are watching this very closely," he said. "This tragedy will have an impact and will slow us down. My main concern is for continuity, that everyone involved now can stay actively engaged."
   
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