All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Enterprising students Kayla Evans (left) and Katelin VonFeldt (right) with their NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop presentation.
Katelin VonFeldt, a junior at Niwot High School, and Kayla Evans, a senior at Erie High School, were among 20 high school student teams nationwide selected to present at NASA's Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop, held on Jan. 28-31 in Galveston, Texas.
This marked the first time high school students were invited to participate in the conference, which focuses on biomedical research related to human spaceflight. Von Feldt and Evans presented their innovations regarding the mental health of astronauts.
Following their presentation in Galveston, VonFeldt and Evans presented a final review in Golden, Colorado, on Feb. 10. If selected, VonFeldt and Evans will be invited to the final design showcase at Houston's Johnson Space Center in April.
NASA's Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop is part of the NASA HUNCH program which empowers students through a project-based learning program, allowing them to develop 21st-century skills and contribute to real-world NASA projects. The Biomedical Division of NASA's HUNCH program collaborates with NASA flight surgeons to identify pressing astronaut health needs and invites high school and college students to find innovative solutions.
Projects like VonFeldt and Evans' have the potential to influence future space flight and are credited to their student creators.
VonFeldt and Evans' bioscience class at The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools required every student to choose from a list of space-related problems to explore. They decided to address mental health in space, focusing on isolation deprivation. "I've always had a strong interest in mental health, and I realized that while it's not often discussed, mental health in space is one of the most important aspects astronauts need to address," VonFeldt explained.
Under the guidance of Jayme Sneider, their bioscience teacher at The Innovation Center's bioscience class, VonFeldt and Evans addressed how astronauts deal with isolation deprivation. They used virtual reality and sensory-based memory triggers to combat the isolation and stress astronauts experience. They collaborated with CU Boulder Bioastronautics, the U.S. Space Force, and NASA to develop their project and prepare for the presentation.
"Our goal is to help astronauts feel more connected to home and reduce feelings of isolation in space," said Evans. "We created a system using 360-degree video in virtual reality to simulate familiar environments, combined with exercise and scent-based memory cues."
The team created 360-degree videos of various outdoor scenes, including "City Life After Dark," "Sunset Snowy Walk," "Lafayette Grasslands," "Sunny Day Lake Stroll," and "Forest Rain Walk." Using a GoPro Max 360, they edited and formatted them in Adobe Premiere Pro and exported the clips to the virtual reality headset Oculus Quest 2.
While attending the workshop in Galveston, Evans and VonFeldt shot a video of the ocean shoreline's lapping waves during a dreary day. When the reporter put on the Oculus, they were amazed by the lifelike experience, from the rhythmic sound of the waves to the muted, pastel-gray atmosphere.
VonFeldt and Evans wanted to complement the visual experience by incorporating the sense of smell. Humans can distinguish thousands of smells, often linked to emotions and memories. They incorporated aromatherapy using reusable lava stones infused with scents to trigger positive memories and emotions. They are working to integrate the aromatherapy pendant with the Oculus Quest 2.
Attending the conference provided valuable experience. "Seeing other NASA HUNCH projects and meeting experts in the field was incredible," said Evans. "We got feedback from NASA scientists, professors, and fellow students, which helped refine our project and gave us new ideas."
Looking ahead, Evans plans to study environmental science at the University of Colorado. VonFeldt aims to pursue a fitness career, with aspirations of owning a gym and contributing to fitness in space. "I've always been passionate about fitness, and I know that is what I want to devote my life to, creating a better fitness experience for people worldwide."
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