Astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr. Biography

Astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr. Biography Its no surprise that there are doctors who have served as NASA astronauts. They are well-trained and particularly suited to study the effects of space flight on human bodies. Thats exactly the case with Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., who served as an astronaut aboard several shuttle missions beginning in 1991, after serving the agency as a flight surgeon and clinical scientist. He left NASA in 1996 and is a professor of medicine and is CEO and Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, which invests in healthcare technologies and related companies. His is a very classic American story of aiming high and reaching amazing goals both on Earth and in space. Dr. Harris has often spoken about challenges that we all face in life and meeting them through determination and empowerment.   Early Life Dr. Harris was born on June 26, 1956, the son of Mrs. Gussie H. Burgess, and Mr. Bernard A. Harris, Sr. A native of Temple, Texas, he graduated from Sam Houston High School, San Antonio, in 1974. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Houston in 1978 before following that up with a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. Beginning a Career at NASA After medical school, Dr. Harris completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1985. He joined the NASA Ames Research Center in 1986, and focused his work on the field of musculoskeletal physiology and disuse osteoporosis. He then trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks AFB, San Antonio, Texas, in 1988. His duties included clinical investigations of space adaptation and the development of countermeasures for extended duration space flight. Assigned to the Medical Science Division, he held the title of Project Manager, Exercise Countermeasure Project. These experiences gave him unique qualifications to work at NASA, where ongoing studies of the effects of spaceflight on the human body continue to be an important focus. Dr. Harris became an astronaut in July 1991. He was assigned as a mission specialist on STS-55, Spacelab D-2, in August 1991, and later flew on board Columbia for ten days. He was part of the payload crew of Spacelab D-2, conducting more research in the physical and life sciences. During this flight, he logged over 239 hours and 4,164,183 miles in space. Later, Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr. was the Payload Commander on STS-63 (February 2-11, 1995), the first flight of a new joint Russian-American space program. Mission highlights included the rendezvous with the Russian Space Station, Mir, operation of a variety of investigations in the Spacehab module, and the deployment and retrieval of Spartan 204, an orbiting instrument that studied galactic dust clouds (such as those where stars are born).  During the flight, Dr. Harris became the first African-American to walk in space. He logged 198 hours, 29 minutes in space, completed 129 orbits, and traveled over 2.9 million miles. In 1996, Dr. Harris departed NASA and received a masters degree in biomedical science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He later served as Chief Scientist and Vice-president of Science and Health Services, and then as Vice President, SPACEHAB, Inc. (now known as Astrotech), where he was involved in business development and marketing of the companys space-based products and services. Later, he was vice-president of business development for Space Media, Inc., establishing an international space education program for students. He is currently serving on the board of the National Math and Science Initiative and has served as a consultant to NASA on a variety of life-science and safety-related issues. Dr. Harris is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Aerospace Medical Association, National Medical Association, American Medical Association, Minnesota Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Harris County Medical Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Texas Tech University Alumni Association, and Mayo Clinic Alumni Association. Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association. Association of Space Explorers. American Astronautical Society, a member of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Houston. Committee Member, Greater Houston Area Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and a member, Board of Directors, Manned Space Flight Education Foundation Inc. He has also received many honors from science and medical societies and remains active in research and business.

Marrying Homosexuals essays

Marrying Homosexuals essays Homosexuals should be allowed to marry because the disallowance of it violates their constitutional rights. Marriage is an institution long recognized by our government under the right to pursue happiness, and denying that right to any couple, regardless of gender, is unconstitutional. This argument, though, is not disputed. In fact, none of the arguments raised in opposition to the allowance of homosexual marriages takes into account the constitutional rights afforded to all humans. The arguments are only in relation to the possible repercussions (real or imagined) of granting these rights. Our nation was built and has always been based on the fundamental principles of freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence and through our Constitution. The opponents of homosexual marriage need to remember what freedom means to America, and understand the significance of setting a precedent that denies that freedom. The Supreme Court has long recognized that the institution of marriage is one of the rights guaranteed to all Americans by our Constitution. On the Internet, you can find the full text of the following Supreme Court cases. In the case of Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court said, The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men. In the case of Cleveland Board of Education v. LaFleur, the Supreme Court said, This Court has long recognized that freedom of personal choice in matters of marriage and family life is one of the liberties protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. At this time, however, marriage is only granted to heterosexual couples. Although homosexuals live under the same constitution, they are not afforded the same rights as heterosexuals. The reasons presented against the allowance of homosexual marriage are flimsy, and have nothing to do with the constitutio...

Corporate Governance and Regulation - A Case Study (RBS) Essay

Corporate Governance and Regulation - A Case Study (RBS) - Essay Example The overdraft facility is one of the most versatile instruments in banking today. The Royal bank of Scotland apart from providing banking services in Scotland through 700 branches also provides branch banking services throughout the British Isles in collaboration with the NatWest and Ulster Bank. The Royal Bank of Scotland provides dedicated retail and commercial banking services in Scotland, Ireland and US. The Royal Bank of Scotland has a worldwide presence in about 40 countries where they provide investment banking services, private banking and also banking network channels for payment across Europe, Asia and Middle East. Apart from the core banking divisions, the bank also has non-core support groups to provide better banking services which includes Asset protection group, Global restructuring group, Risk containment group and the legal group. The Royal Bank of Scotland has a strategic plan for fulfilling its long term and short term objectives. The strategies employed by The Roy al Bank of Scotland include serving the customers to their delight, containing the risk profile of the bank and finally attain sustainable value addition for the shareholders. The Royal Bank of Scotland is governed by a Board of Directors and the managing and executive committee. The bank is headed by its chairman Sir Philip Hampton and the Group Chief executive Stephen Hester. The platform of principal decision making is formed by the Board members of the group who has the overall responsibility and accountability of not only leading the group in a sustainable fashion but also ensure value and returns to their shareholders. The group also has a performance and remuneration committee apart from its supporting risk and audit structure. Apart from taking the policy-making decisions, the Board members of the group also monitors the operations and performance of the group on a periodic basis. The Group Board and the Committees governing The Royal Bank of Scotland is committed to high st andards of adhering to codes on corporate governance. The Board Group scheduled a detail on the company affairs which is reviewed for monitoring effective implementation of the policies on corporate governance. The Royal Bank of Scotland acknowledges diversity and has implemented it worldwide. The Royal Bank of Scotland has around 5000 women workforce globally who are guided by a senior team of personnel. The Royal Bank of Scotland has a designed code of conduct along with defined policies on environmental, social and ethical risk, anti-money laundering, human rights, anti bribery, anti corruption and managing of diversity. These governance and regulatory policies help The Royal Bank of Scotland to maintain a balance of their financial, economic and social goals. Apart from serving their customer well, The Royal Bank of Scotland is committed to be a good employer, fulfil their corporate social responsibilities, open to consultation with their stakeholder for wealth maximization and restoring security and confidentiality of internal information. The Royal Bank of Scotland filed its annual report on 28th March, 2013 with the US Securities and exchange commission. The stock