Steven Collicott

Steven Collicott, a professor in AAE, was selected president-elect of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) during its annual meeting in early November.

Collicott began his three-year term on Nov. 9, 2020 and will serve as president-elect the first year before moving to president and, then, in the final year, conference organizer. Collicott, a “life member” of ASGSR and a board member from November 2015-October 2017, was elected for the new role by ASGSR’s members.

ASGSR, founded in 1984, represents the areas of biological and physical sciences that focus on the understanding of responses of biological and physical systems to the zero or reduced gravity encountered in space exploration. The society provides a forum to foster research, education and professional development in the multidisciplinary fields of gravitational life and physical science research.

As a professor and researcher at Purdue, Collicott applies modeling advances and proven zero-gravity technology from the spacecraft community to science problems and advances from science to the spacecraft community. He has unique experiences and skills in the control, gauging and modeling of liquids in the weightless conditions of spaceflight, known as “zero-gravity fluid dynamics.”

“ASGSR is a unique collection of researchers, blending biological and physical sciences as they relate to space exploration, so having been a member for a decade, I wanted to pitch in and do my share to advance the organization,” Collicott said.

ASGSR is devoted to furthering the field of gravitational research, its website said, by bringing together a diverse group of scientists and engineers to encourage an exchange of ideas bridging basic and applied biological and physical sciences research and technology in space and on the ground. Its members represent academic, government and industry interests.

As president-elect, Collicott will learn the president’s job, become acquainted with the board and the current issues facing the society, contribute to discussions with NASA and other government entities that use or affect space-based research, and work to assure the society has good candidates for next year’s board and president-elect elections.

During the three-year term, Collicott said one major goal is to increase participation of researchers in the physical sciences.

“They traditionally have had lower participation than we see from biologists, and space exploration needs both,” Collicott said. “Increasing awareness of the more affordable and more accessible research opportunities in the new commercial re-usable sub-orbital rocket industry can also occur, and this advances both researchers and U.S. space exploration.”