Influential Appointment

Influential Appointment

Ohio Wesleyan Professor Selected to Serve on NASA-Related Space Studies Board

DELAWARE, Ohio - Ohio Wesleyan University professor Chris Wolverton has been appointed to the Space Studies Board (SSB) of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The SSB provides "an independent, authoritative forum for information and advice" on all aspects of space science.

Wolverton, Ph.D., previously has served as co-chair of the National Academies' panel on Biological Sciences in Space and has earned two NASA-funded research grants (one ongoing) to support plant-gravity research that has been conducted on the International Space Station as well as in his Ohio Wesleyan laboratory.

"It's such a thrill and honor to get to serve on the Space Studies Board," said Wolverton, Ohio Wesleyan's Albert M. Austin Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. "The breadth and scope of science that the board advises federal research agencies on is incredible, and I look forward to growing in my understanding of both the science and how the board can help push the most important research forward."

According to the National Academies, the Space Studies Board "oversees advisory studies and program assessments, facilitates international research coordination, and promotes communications on space science and science policy between the research community, the federal government, and the interested public. The SSB also serves as the U.S. National Representative for the Committee for the International Council for Science Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)."

In addition, the SSB is responsible for commissioning all decadal surveys related to space science, including astronomy and astrophysics, heliophysics, and the recently published "Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences Research in Space 2023-2032." Decadal surveys are produced by experts in their fields following community engagement and help guide research priorities for NASA and other agencies, as well as other parts of the federal government.

Through his Ohio Wesleyan research, Wolverton hopes not only to determine how plants sense and respond to gravity, but also to use this information to improve plant viability, health, and crop yield on earth.

Wolverton's NASA research grant also enables him to hire students to help with his work and conduct their own related projects. Since his NASA funding began in 2015, Wolverton has worked with approximately 65 OWU students, including collaborating with them on journal articles and professional conference presentations.

Because of his expertise, Wolverton also is helping Ohio Wesleyan explore collaborations with the Five Colleges of Ohio and The Ohio State University to develop a science park entirely focused on space research. The state-of-the-art facility would boast a life-size replica of the Starlabspace station, facilitating advanced research and solidifying Central Ohio's role as an emerging leader in the field of space exploration.

Learn more about Wolverton, Ohio Wesleyan's Department of Biological Sciences, and the department's six majors and five minors at owu.edu/BiologicalSciences.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.