You have just given your docent lecture, “What a Martian traveler needs to know about radiation” – how did it go, and how does it feel now?
It feels very good, thank you! I think it went well. It was great to present my work and research in a new context.
In your lecture, you highlight the risks associated with human missions to Mars, where radiation is one of the major challenges. Could you tell us more – what makes this radiation so problematic?
The radiation environment in space is very different from what we are normally exposed to on Earth. During the journey to Mars, astronauts would be continuously exposed to radiation originating from high-energy processes in the cosmos. This radiation has such high energy that it is essentially impossible to shield against. It also includes a small fraction of heavy ions, which are few in number but have a very high biological impact. The combination of high biological effect and the difficulty of shielding means that astronauts would receive a significant radiation dose, increasing their risk of cancer later in life.
Is this also the main focus of your research?
No, my research focuses on the medical use of ionising radiation. I work on developing methods to calculate absorbed doses to organs and tumours in radiotherapy using radioactive pharmaceuticals. My research therefore concerns a context in which radiation exposure is, at least in part, beneficial rather than purely a health risk.
Do you think we will one day be able to carry out human missions to Mars?
Technically, we will certainly be able to do so. The question is rather whether we consider the value of human missions to be high enough to justify the cost. On that, I am less convinced.
And finally – would you yourself like to travel to Mars? 🚀
If you had asked me when I was younger, I would have said yes. These days, however, I appreciate the safety of life under the atmosphere far too much to want to leave Earth.