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    About

    Ana Cristina Pires de Oliveira was born in Espinho, Portugal, on January 13th of 1980. She is a Researcher at INESC TEC's Centre for Robotics and Autonomous Systems and has been awarded a 6-year junior research contract under FCT/MCTES (CEECIND/00835/2018) on "Mapping underwater geological resources with robotics: a system tool for space-earth interaction and validation". She has a European Doctorate in Geosciences (Geological Resources and Geomaterials field) and MSc in Georesources and Geotechnics from Aveiro University, a Post-Graduation Course in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto (FLUP), as well as a Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering Degree (ISEP). She regularly collaborates as a researcher with the former training centers where spent over 11 years related to multi and interdisciplinary projects (Laboratory of Cartography and Applied Geology - LABCARGA|ISEP, and GeoBioTec|UA research unit). Between August 2019 to July 2020, she was an Invited-Scientist at the School of Engineering (ISEP), Polytechnic of Porto. Presently she has been involved in several projects related to sustainable sea/marine mining, geotechnologies, and georesources, such as EMSO-PT Project and SIDENAV (supported by P2020 and FCT), INSite (Project Manager), UNEXUP, and MineHeritage Projects (supported by EIT Raw Materials). She works very closely with the preparation and submission of scientific or up-scaling projects related to underwater technologies. She was also the first Portuguese woman to finish with success the Scientist-Astronaut Program (Basic Astronautics), Class of 1802, under the framework of Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) supported by NASA. During the Fundamentals of Astronautics Course, that took place in the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Florida, USA) she had the chance to perform acrobatic flights to experience G-forces, high-altitude simulation, and slow-onset hypoxia effects, learn about Spacesuit donning, doffing, pressure regulation, and contingency operations, etc. Ana Pires continues to pursue space training and to attend the research programs, therefore she has completed several courses in the scope of the Applied Astronautics Program awarded by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), namely: AER 101 Suborbital Space Environment (Aeronomy Concentration); BIO 103 Microgravity Space Suit Evaluation (Bioastronautics: IVA Space Suit Evaluation Concentration); EVA 101 Life Support Systems and EVA 103 Planetary Field Geology and EVA Tool Development (Bioastronautics: EVA Space Suit Evaluation Concentration). Currently, she is the Co-Chair Knowledge Management of ¿Space For All Nations¿ (SFAN) project developed by the International Institute for Astronautical Science (IIAS) and PoSSUM Program. Since 2018 she has also made efforts in Portugal to promote human space flight, astrogeology, technology, robotics, STEAM outreach activities, and has also been invited to numerous public talks, media interviews, and conference events. Ana Pires is also a Specialist Diver (SSI Certification), with Marine Ecology and Science of Diving specialty courses. Very recently, she was selected to be part of the main crew of the "GEO-Pegasus" team to carry out an analog mission in April-May 2023 in the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), located in Utah (USA), owned, and operated by the Mars Society.

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    • Name

      Ana Cristina Pires

    • Role

      Assistant Researcher

    • Since

      05th July 2017
    007
    Publications
    View all Publications

    2024

    Oral health in analog astronauts on space-simulated missions: an exploratory study

    Authors
    Gonçalves, ASR; Alves, C; Graça, SR; Pires, A;

    Publication
    CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS

    Abstract
    Objectives Space, an extreme environment, poses significant challenges to human physiology, including adverse effects on oral health (e.g., increase of periodontitis prevalence, caries, tooth sensitivity). This study investigates the differences in oral health routines and oral manifestations among analog astronauts during their daily routines and simulated space missions conducted on Earth. Materials and methods This research focused on scientist-astronaut candidates of the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) and analog astronauts from other institutions. The study used a cross-sectional methodology with a descriptive component. A total of 16 participants, comprising individuals aged between 21 and 55 years, were invited to complete an online questionnaire. A comparison was made between the subjects' oral hygiene practices in everyday life (designated as Earth in this research) and their oral hygiene routines during their space analog missions. Results (i) Toothbrushing duration was mostly 1-3 minutes (n = 13; 81.30% on Earth; n = 11; 68.80% on a mission); (ii) time spent was the greatest difficulty in maintaining oral hygiene routine on a mission (n = 9; 53,6%); (iii) There were more experienced oral symptoms on Earth (n = 12; 75%) than on mission (n = 7; 43.80%); (iv) The most frequent frequency of oral check-ups was > 12 months (n = 6; 37,5%); (v) Oral health materials were scarce on the mission (n = 9; 56.30%); (vi) For the majority, personal oral hygiene was classified as good (n = 9; 56.30% on Earth; n = 7; 43.80% on the mission). Conclusion and Clinical relevance This research contributes to increasing knowledge of oral hygiene measures in extreme environments, but further research is needed as this topic remains relatively understudied. This study represents an initial contribution to oral health in analog space missions, aiming to propose guidelines for future missions, including deep space missions and expeditions to extreme environments.

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    2023

    Engineering geosciences, geotechnics and functional geomaterials: new trends on GIS mapping, geotechnologies and design with geohazards

    Authors
    Chamine, HI; Pires, A; Fernandes, I; Prikryl, R; Tugrul, A; Duzgun, HS; de Vallejo, LIG;

    Publication
    SN APPLIED SCIENCES

    Abstract

    2023

    Geotechnics, Georesources and Natural Hazards: Impacts in Marine Technology and Oceanic Engineering

    Authors
    Pires, A; Chaminé, HI;

    Publication
    Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation

    Abstract
    This essay addresses the importance of geotechnics and marine georesources in developing technologies. The study proposes a coastal and marine geoengineering approach that focuses on five domains (5G’s): georesources, geology, geotechnics, geomechanics and geotechnologies. These domains are considered in several engineering projects related to coastal, hydraulic, marine, and maritime applications. The reality of a world in rapid, continuous evolution has put into perspective a multidisciplinary approach combining different practices and coastal strategies. That is the main driving force that should be considered when dealing with geoengineering projects in general. Moreover, geological resources and the potential exploitation of mineral and rock raw materials boost innovative techniques and upscaling geo-robotic systems. Finally, the essay unravels new trends in challenging and extreme environments and natural hazards, highlighting emerging fields such as deep-sea mining, geo-exploration, offshore, coastal, harbour and marine geotechnics. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

    CloseRead Abstract

    2023

    Hardness Tester for Analog Planetary Rocks: A Preliminary Assessment in Microgravity Flight

    Authors
    Pires, A; Costa, C; Moura, R; Persad, H; Reimuller, J; Gowanlock, D; Alavi, S; Beatty, HW; Almeida, J; Almeida, F; Silva, E; Pérez Alberti, A; Chaminé, I;

    Publication
    Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation

    Abstract

    2023

    Methodological insights from unmanned system technologies in a rock quarry environment and geomining heritage site: coupling LiDAR-based mapping and GIS geovisualisation techniques

    Authors
    Pires, A; Dias, A; Silva, P; Ferreira, A; Rodrigues, P; Santos, T; Oliveira, A; Freitas, L; Martins, A; Almeida, J; Silva, E; Chaminé, HI;

    Publication
    Arabian Journal of Geosciences

    Abstract

    Supervised
    thesis

    2020

    Medição de Dureza em Astrogeologia - Um Estudo Prévio (Hardness Measurement in Astrogeology - a Preliminary Study)

    Author
    Ana Catarina Moura Loureiro Costa

    Institution
    UP-FEUP

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