UC San Diego researchers are contributing to major advances in the space industry, according to an April 16 announcement. Their work includes using space-based research to improve human health, protect against climate change, and develop methods for early warning of asteroid impacts.
The importance of these efforts is highlighted by projections that the global space economy will grow rapidly in the coming decade. UC San Diego’s involvement spans multiple disciplines, with faculty from the School of Medicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Jacobs School of Engineering playing key roles.
Corinne Peek-Asa, vice chancellor for research and innovation at UC San Diego, said: “The race to advance research in space is of incredible importance to our country. UC San Diego has a crucial role as a thought and discovery leader in how the U.S. manages this race, but it is not a race that we can run in isolation. This is going to be a global solution where scientists, industry and government work in partnership to better understand ourselves and the Earth.”
Medical researchers such as Catriona Jamieson and Alysson Muotri have sent multiple stem cell experiments into orbit since 2019. Jamieson said: “UC San Diego’s Sanford Stem Cell Institute is in a unique position as the only fully integrated stem cell institute in the country… We have an established track record of working as a team to engineer solutions for really tough medical problems.” Muotri added: “Space research is crucial… because there is no human model of brain aging on Earth.” Their findings may lead to new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s or ALS.
In environmental science, Helen Amanda Fricker at Scripps Institution was awarded a NASA satellite mission designed to monitor changes in forests and polar ice using advanced lidar technology. Fricker said: “We are seeing significant changes… including ice sheet melt, sea ice loss and glacier retreat… These visible changes … have far-reaching implications…” The data from these missions help inform policies related to flood defense strategies and public safety.
Meanwhile, engineering faculty Thomas Bewley and Aaron Rosengren are developing predictive models assessing risks posed by asteroids entering Earth’s atmosphere. Bewley said their simulations help anticipate which objects require action years before any potential impact occurs.
These initiatives show how UC San Diego’s interdisciplinary approach uses space technology not only for exploration but also for addressing urgent challenges on Earth.
