2024 – present  Development Manager, IAASS - International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety

2019 – present  Board of Advisors, Klinika Digitale, Kosovo

2013 – present  Board of Advisors, Healthcare Centre of Excellence, Kosovo/ USA

2012 – 2018  Board of Advisors, Mars One

2005 – 2017  Board of Advisors, Rays of Hope Foundation, Switzerland.

2012 – present  Professional Member of International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS).

2010 – 2012  Member of ESA Knowledge Management Working Group.

2010 – 2012  Member of European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS).

2005 – 2007  Visiting participant of the eHealth Standardization Focus Group (eHSFG).

2004 – 2007  Member of NATO/COMEDS Telemedicine Panel - TMED (subgroup of COMEDS: COmmittee of the chiefs of the military MEDical Services in NATO).

2004 – 2006  Visiting participant of EHTEL (European Health Telematics Association) Group of Health Care Authorities (HCA).

2002 – 2006  Founding Member of Telemedicine Alliance team (TMA: ESA, WHO, ITU, with EC)

2000 – 2001  Member of ad hoc Working Group on Multicultural & International Issues in Spaceflight Research & Healthcare, of the NSBRI (National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Houston, Texas).

1994 – 1998  Member of Working Group for Space Medicine, DGLRM (Deutschen Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin – German Aerospace Association).

1993 – 1998  Member of Committee on Life Sciences, Subcommittee on Human Factors - International Academy of Astronautics/ International Astronautical Federation (IAA/IAF).

1994 – 2014  Member of German Association for Aerospace Medicine (DGLRM).

1990 – 1991  Member of ad hoc HERMES Spaceplane Cockpit Working Group - HSCWG.

1985 – present  Correspondent in Gravitational Physiology International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS), Commission on Gravitational Physiology.

1985 – 1988  Member of Columbus Crew Activities Working Group (ColCAWG)

1983 – 1986  Member of Spacelab-D1 Investigators' Working Group (IWG)

1980 – 1988  Member of Space Sled Experimenters' Team

1980 – 1984  Member of Spacelab-1 Investigators' Working Group (IWG)

2006 – Present  Reviewer for scientific journals

• Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance (AMPH)
• Journal of Scientific Research and Reports (JSRR)
• Journal of Space Safety Engineering (JSSE)

1988 – Present  Research associated with various academic & research institutions in the domains of neuro-physiology (sensory perception), applied psychology, human spaceflight, the key institutions being:

• Concordia University, Dept. of Applied Human Sciences, Montreal, Canada
• University of Exeter, College of Life and Environmental Sciences
• Ludwig Maximilian University, Department of Neurology, Munich, Germany
• NASA Ames Research Centre, Moffett Field, California, USA
• Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP), Moscow, Russia
• Univ. of Texas, Dep. of Psychology, Austin, Texas; National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Houston, Texas.

Key topics of research:

• Human missions to Mars
• SFINCSS-99: Long Duration Simulation at IBMP, Moscow, Co-Investigator [1999-present].
• Research on cultural issues in manned spaceflight; collaboration with the University of Texas in Austin [2000-2001].
• Research Fellow at Ludwig-Maximilians University, Dept of Neurology (Univ. Hospital), Munich: Analysis of MIR-95 sensory perception experiments (orientation, subjective vertical) [1999-2000].
• MIR'97: German Russian Manned Space Mission: Co-Investigator (physiology/ electromyography) [1996-97].
• Capsuls '94 Mission, Toronto: Psychological Training Experiment – Investigator.
• Research in Human Factors and methods of astronaut training for long duration flight.
• Sensory perception experiments in Parabolic Flight [1991].

1980 – 1988 Research Fellow at the Physiological Institute, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz. Research in the domain of neuro-physiology (sensory perception); work on parabolic flight, under-sea, Shuttle, and terrestrial experimentation.

• Research in neurophysiology, vestibular physiology and sensory perception.
• Scientific experiments, simulations, astronaut training, with parabolic flights on NASA KC-135 & small aircraft.
• Testing of equipment and facilities; regular, end-to-end, functional, and under extreme conditions.
• Underwater human sensory physiology experimentation and micro-g simulation.
• Scientific Project Manager for Space Sled Experimenter Team, Spacelab-1 Mission and the German D-1 Mission.
• Planning and Running of crew-training activities, preparation of step procedures, for European Space-Sled Experimenter Team, Spacelab-1 and D-1 Missions.
• Organisation and running of pre- and post-flight baseline data collection on the crew for the Sled Experiments for SL 1 and D-1 Spacelab/ Space Shuttle missions.
• Management of experiment ground operations support and crew communications for Sled Experiments for SL-1/D-1

1980 Dept. of Nuclear Physics, Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz - Biomedical research.

1978 – 1980 Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto-Hahn Institute), Dept. of Nuclear Physics - Nuclear physics research with a van-de-Graaf accelerator.

1972 – 1978 University of Leeds, School of Physics & Astronomy - Experimental research on fundamental particles / cosmic ray air-showers, with a cloud-chamber. Search for the building blocks of matter.

Academic qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy Ph.D., Physics, University of Leeds, (1978), Leeds, England
• Master of Science M.S., Physics, University of Michigan, (1971), Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
• Bachelor of Science B.Sc., Physics & Math, Sir George Williams (Concordia) University, (1968), Montreal, Canada.

Languages

• English (mother tongue)
• German (good command)
• French (fair command)
• Dutch (basic command)
• Russian (basics)
• Arabic (basics)

Dr. James Kass holds a B.Sc. in Physics and Math (Montreal) and an MS in Physics (Ann Arbor, Michigan). He completed his Ph.D. in physics in Leeds, England, before joining the Max-Planck Institute to research in Nuclear Physics. He then joined the department of medicine at Joh.-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany, where he researched in Neuro-physiology and space medicine for eight years, working on two Spacelab missions. He coordinated the European SpaceSled experimenters teams and was responsible for crew training, crew procedures, and ground operations, communicating directly with the space crew.

Following this he worked for the aerospace industry in Bremen and Munich in the sectors of space operations, tele-medical research, artificial intelligence, and human behaviour, performing pilot experiments under-water, in parabolic flight, and testing and validating procedures, experiments and telemedical equipment running on the MIR station during the MIR97 mission. He has worked intimately with cosmonauts of the Russian Salyut and MIR space stations, as well as with astronauts on the Apollo programme, Skylab, Shuttle, and ISS. In addition, he was involved in several space simulation isolation studies in Cologne (Germany) Moscow (Russia), and Toronto (Canada).

Over the years he has taught at various academic institutions: he has been Adjunct Associate Professor at Concordia University, Montreal, dept. of Applied Human Sciences, where he lectured and carries out research in human behaviour; he has lectured at the International Space University in Strasbourg and Barcelona (summer session); he continues to lecture at University College London, Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme environment.

In addition to academic and scientific work, he was deeply involved in design and testing of experimental hardware set to fly on the Space Shuttle and the MIR station; testing included vibration, emc, and functional testing of equipment. He also trained the crew to operate the hardware and software, and carried out ground operations during various (human) space missions, leading international teams to perform the work.

As part of the work in human spaceflight, for the last decade Dr. Kass worked in the domain of Telemedicine & eHealth for space as well as terrestrial non-space applications. He was a founding member of the Telemedicine Alliance from 2002, a collaborative endeavour involving the European Space Agency (ESA), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and (funded by) the European Commission (EC DG-IFNSO); the work covered almost all aspects of ICT in healthcare (eHealth) including organisational, clinical, educational, and financial, covering a wide gamut of domains, including operational, technical, legal, and administrative. This work brought him into close relationship with government agencies and ministries across Europe, as well as standardization bodies, where he has been called to advise and participate in expert working groups.

Throughout most of the 35 years of his multi-disciplinary professional career Dr. Kass has worked in the domain of human spaceflight (since 1980), uniquely spanning the very different infrastructures of academic research, industry, and the Agency. But, he has also run his own companies and has been on the board of directors of several companies and international institutions in several countries. Thus Dr. Kass' career has been multi-disciplinary andmulti-national He has had long experience working with international and national agencies, industrial and research institutions, medical centres and hospitals, in most countries of Europe, including many of the new accession states, as well as Russia, USA, Canada, China and Japan.

Since 2000 Dr. Kass has been working in various divisions at ESA/ESTEC: In the Directorate of Human Spaceflight, in the domains of operations, safety, biomedical experiments, eHealth and telemedicine, dual-use technologies, and business. In 2007 he joined a special task force for ESA’s DG in setting up a programme for integrated applications (Integrated Applications Promotion – IAP), after which he worked in the directorate of Telecommunications & Integrated Applications, in the division of awareness and feasibility studies. Amongst his tasks he was responsible for organizing workshops, meeting with diverse senior governmental and industrial representatives. In this context he designed and launched a cross-directorate website on ESA’s activities in the domain of health, as well as the IAP programme website.

In 2010 he founded his consulting company, and started working for the Inspector General’s department at the Agency, in the office of Engineering Knowledge Management. In the same year he was nominated as Expert for the European Commission’s Security Research Unit. In 2011, he worked for the Product Assurance and Safety Department, and has been Secretary of the ESA Lessons Learned System.

Dr. Kass has authored numerous publications in scientific and technical journals, and made presentations at many international scientific symposia, congresses, workshops, trade fares, and EC and inter-governmental working groups. In recent years Dr. Kass has been frequently invited to give key-note speeches and presentations at universities, trade fares, and industrial platforms, and chair international conferences. He is currently reviewer for scientific journals: Aerospace Medicine & Human Performance (AMPH), and Journal of Scientific Research and Reports (JSRR).

In February 2024 Dr Kass joined the IAASS - International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, as board member and Development Manager.

2011 – Enablance GmbH, Bremen, Germany

• Founder & CEO (Multi-media; data-privacy; spaceflight operations, technology, & safety; alternative energy).

2010 – James R Kass Space Consulting, Netherlands

• Multi-media, journalism, human spaceflight operations, technology, & safety.

1995 – 2002 Equipage GmbH, Munich, Germany;

• Director, public relations, business development, R&D
• Project leader: Telecommunications, Telemedicine, eHealth, Data Privacy
• [1995-1998] Deputy-chairman, board of directors, Radio Nest, St. Petersburg, Russia (Radio broadcasting).
• [1995-1999] Chairman, board of directors, BRIGA Ltd, Riga, Latvia (Radio & TV broadcasting)

1998 – 2000 Migrata Space Consulting GbR (Microgravity Technologies & Applications), Munich

• Director & Head of Operations and Training; Telemedicine product development.
• Design of the European Physiological Modules (Phase-A study).

1996 - 1998 PanKosmos GmbH, Munich, Germany

• Head of Operations & Astronaut Training; work with telemedical monitoring of vital functions.
• Parabolic flight tests, MIR station experiments and operations support
• Responsible for Medex operational activities, crew procedures, training, Baseline Data Collection; vibration, emc and functional testing; ground support during MIR97 mission with Medex (Medical Experimentation Facility)
• Study for ESA with regard to designing a multi-electrode EEG and EMG facility and a Brain Stimulation Facility.
• Development of Healthcare ICT systems

1988 - 1996 OHB-System GmbH, Bremen, Germany

• Performed studies and support tasks for the Columbus and Hermes Crew Offices of ESA
• Hermes Operations and Hermes cockpit design working group.
• Columbus Crew On-Board Tasks Study and Follow-on Studies.
• Evaluation of Crew Work Station Test-bed (Advanced MMI Simulations).
• Exemsi '92 60-day isolation Mission, Cologne: Head of Evaluation Team.
• Astronaut Training Methods and Facilities Studies / Artificial Intelligence Techniques.
• Russian Operational and Training Methods and Facilities (Studies).
• Anthrolab-/ Automated Biolab Scientific Operations (Studies).
• Parabolic Flight Organisation & Operations (Caravelle in Europe, and Ilyushin in Russia).

Dr Kass has been a consultant for the European Space Agency (ESA) at their technical and scientific establishment in the Netherlands, ESTEC (European Space Research & Technology Centre), since more than 10 years. In fact, he has worked directly and indirectly with ESA (see industrial and academic experience) work since more than 30 years.

2013 ESA’s Department of Human Resources

• Senior Advisor to Head of Human Resources.
• Preparation of 2^nd International Workshop on Lessons Learned in Programme/Project Management.

2011 – 2012 Directorate of Technical & Quality Management, Product Assurance and Safety Department, Knowledge Management Office (2011)/ Requirements, Standards and Engineering Knowledge Division (2012)

• Knowledge Management Engineer (designed ELLS database with embedded process; Created LL Events website; member of ESA Knowledge Management WG).
• Secretary of the ESA Lessons Learned System (ELLS), Lessons Learned (LL) Events.
• Support for European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS).

2010 Directorate of Technical & Quality Management, Dept of the Inspector General, Knowledge Management Office

• Knowledge Management Engineer; Data Bases Survey responsible.

2009 – 2010 Directorate of Telecommunications & Integrated Applications

• Awareness Manager for Integrated Applications Promotion (IAP) Programme, reporting to division head
• Created Integrated Applications Promotion (IAP) programme website
• Prepared plans for IAP Ambassador Platforms and Community Portals

2007 – 2008 Inter-Directorate Task Force (Office of Special Advisor to the DG)

• Reporting to head of Task Force, realization and implementation of new IAP initiative
• Organisation of workshops and marketing for the new IAP initiative
• Creation of Space-4-Health inter-directorate website of health activities at ESA

2000 – 2008 Directorate of Human Spaceflight

• 2005 – 2008: ISS business development, partnership projects, marketing, promotion
• 2003 – 2005: Telemedicine & eHealth – in the frame of the Telemedicine Alliance (ESA-WHO-ITU, EC)
• 2000 – 2003: Flight Safety and Testing, Crew Training, Ground & Flight Operations (Biopack on STS-107)

2017

Visiting lecturer in Buzau, Romania, at Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu National College and Bucharest’s Bioterra University Buzau campus - Universitatea Bioterra din Buzău. (see news story).

2015

Visiting lecturer at Concordia's Summer Research Institute, Concordia University, Montreal. Public lecture: "Reminiscences of an adventurous career in human spaceflight" and workshop in the domain of human spaceflight.

2000 – 2013

Visiting lecturer at University College London, Dep. of Medicine, Centre for Aviation, Space & Extreme Environment (CASE) Medicine; annual lecture/ workshop in space psychology.

1999 – 2003

Adjunct Associate Professor / visiting lecturer Dept. of Applied Human Sciences, Concordia University, Montreal.

1995

Visiting lecturer, International Space University (ISU), Master of Space Studies Programme, Strasbourg, France; Co-organized and lead team-training workshop.

1994

Visiting lecturer, International Space University, Summer Session (Barcelona, Spain); headed workshops on space medical experimentation.

1980 – 1988

Johannes Gutenberg University, Physiological Institute, Mainz, Germany; Instructor (backup) in physiology laboratories.

1970 – 1971

Detroit public schools, Michigan, USA Teacher (part-time) at disadvantaged schools, experimental teaching project, “Project SEED” - Special Elementary Education for the Disadvantaged.

1968 – 1969

McGill University, Dep. of Physics, Montreal; Instructor (part-time) in physics laboratories.

1968 – 1969

Loyola College, Dep. of Physics, Montreal; Instructor (part-time) in physics laboratories.

Dr James Kass started his career as a Nuclear Physicist, following on to Neurophysiology, Space Medicine, Human Spaceflight, Operations, Telemedicine, Applied Human Sciences, Group Dynamics, Knowledge Management, and Data Privacy.

This wide background allows him to analyse problems and investigate needs in a holistic manner taking into account the various complex inter-related issues often arising from very different domains that usually surround a situation. A broad system approach to designing solutions is facilitated by the wealth of experience garnered along his multi-disciplinary professional career.

Much of his work revolved around the domain of human spaceflight, where technical, scientific, and operational work involved delicate team work and complex negotiations across international teams and organizations as different players competed for limited resources on a space mission. He trained the first German, Dutch and Swiss astronauts, and worked with many others from Soyuz/Salyut and Apollo/Skylab to Space Shuttle, Spacelab, MIR, and the ISS. This work took him to space centres across Europe, Russia, Canada and the USA. He was also intimately involved in several long-duration isolation and space mission simulations.

His space career also encompassed satellite-related applications, as member of a DG Task Force to set up an Integrated Applications Promotion program for the European Space Agency (ESA). Telemedicine, eHealth and Knowledge Management are also part of his broad experience, spin-offs from space-related activities, where he worked with governmental and inter-governmental agencies (such as WHO, ITU, EC, ESA), and international working groups. He also served as expert for the EC in diverse fields, such as Telemedicine, Data Privacy and Conflict Resolution, thus garnering a broad scope of experience working with diverse types of institutions, in addition to academia and industry.

Having lived in six countries across three continents, he possesses a rich multi-cultural background and cross-cultural sensitivity. In fact his most recent academic work has been in the domain of applied psychology, a domain in which he held a professorship and still lectures. A recent area of his work is in the domain of Lessons Learned, having set up a Lessons Learned System at the European Space Agency and co-organized international conferences on this subject.

Dr Kass has authored numerous publications in scientific and technical journals, and made presentations at many international scientific symposia, congresses, workshops, and European Commission and national government working groups. He has lectured at the International Space University, Strasbourg & Barcelona, Concordia University, Montreal, and University College London. In recent years Dr Kass has frequently given key-note speeches and presentations at universities, trade fares, and industrial platforms, and to chair or co-chair international symposia, or sessions thereof.

Since 2012, Dr Kass has been a freelance consultant with his own companies in the Netherlands and Germany. He offers expertise in spaceflight technology, research and operations, satellite applications, knowledge management, data privacy, lessons learned, and advice on conflict resolution, and cross-cultural issues. Dr Kass would also like to use his broad and long experience in the international arena to help both in high-level policy advice and fieldwork in areas such as governance, effective aid, peace-making, education, training, and development.