80.1 - Muscles in Space: Using the Inspirational Context of Space to Enthuse Children and Young Adults in Physiology of Muscle Ageing - - Board: B221-222

Harvey Neiland (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Shahjahan Shigdar (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Benjamin Tollitt (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Samantha Jones (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Caroline Staunton (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Kay Hemmings (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), James Henstock (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Jekaterina Kumiscia (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Kai Hoettges (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Christopher McArdle (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Malcolm Jackson (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)), Anne McArdle (University of Liverpool and MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA))

This outreach builds upon the unique opportunity to integrate with our MicroAge project, an interdisciplinary collaboration between physiologists, biochemists, mechanical and electrical engineers. MicroAge addresses the challenge of changes in skeletal muscle physiology in astronauts microgravity and the parallels with muscle dysfunction that occurs with ageing, with experiments taking place on the International Space Station (ISS) and on the ground.

There is a serious need to encourage more children and young adults into careers in science, with a particular need for studying the physiology of ageing. It is clear that there is a skills gap in science subjects, including those with a strong physiology focus, with evidence of a gender difference primarily due to perceptions and an underperformance by children and young adults from underprivileged backgrounds.

The main aim of this outreach was to engage with school children/young adults to fuel curiosity in physiology from both a biological and engineering aspect, using space as an inspiring context to enhance the opportunities afforded to these children, to promote all aspects of science as fun and so to encourage young people to follow STEM-related careers. Although we had no formal aims to extend this work to disabled children and young adults outside of the above mainstream education within this application, we were keen to understand the current demographics and so will engage with specialist groups to examine the potential for extending this work to such individuals.

The outreach was based around an interactive App called ‘MicroAge Mission’ with team descriptors, Qamp;A, frequent mission updates and additional information, including curriculum-linked education at different key stages. The outreach was enhanced by asking the schools and individuals to design our mission patch, with 24 shortlisted patches sent to the ISS and back, giving the children a chance to follow their patch and be a part of our mission. One overall winner was identified. More ‘difficult to reach’ children, those from underprivileged backgrounds or first-in-family children were also engaged, particularly in school groups in Liverpool and London. The children interacted with the ground teams at the Kennedy Space Centre with live Zoom streaming, as well as integration of captured videos and photographs into the App as the experiment developed at key mission transition points. Schools and children continue to be engaged with our mentoring programme into further education.

Generously supported by an outreach Grant from the Physiological Society (http://www.physoc.org) as well as The UK Space Agency, CIMA, The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators, Wellcome Trust and The University of Liverpool.



MicroAge Mission Patch