Priscilla the Rover
JJ Hastings
J.J. Hastings’ research intersects multiple fields and is intentionally expansive—from bioinformatics to biodesign through automation, from biohacking to biosecurity. After undergraduate studies at NYU, she completed advanced degrees at Harvard and the Oxford (New College) in Biology and Bioinformatics, respectively. In 2016, she accepted a competitive scholarship to pursue an interdisciplinary PhD at the University of Melbourne whilst also holding an honorary research position at the ACMD 3D BioFab Lab of SVHM. As a lecturer at RMIT, her students won awards for their work at the international BioDesign Challenge at MoMA in NYC. With long-standing roots as a biohacker (2009) and having co-founded two community labs--London Biohackspace and Melbourne’s BioQuisitive—J.J. now has the first garage lab in Australia to be accredited by the OGTR to work with GMOs. She is a recognised leader in advocacy for the global biohacking movement, serving as advisor to multiple government agencies.
Mark Splittgerber
ark Splittgerber is an inquisitive engineer who is always adapting and learning. He holds bachelor degrees in Mechatronics Engineering and Computer Science as well as recently competing an Executive MBA. He has worked on numerous large-scale projects across Australia with exposure to design and maintenance in the areas of heavy machinery, pumping, piping, electrical, instrumentation and process control. He is passionate about robotics, clean energy and STEM education. Using his broad skills from industry he is keen to motivate and inspire the next generation of engineers to make our world a better place.
Luke Weston
Luke Weston is a researcher and engineer across multiple fields, including nanofabrication of sensors for multispectral and thermal imaging, in-vivo optogenetic sensors, and nanostructures for ‘programming’ light. Luke is a cofounder of two Melbourne hackerspaces and the Lunar Numbat collaboration. His other research includes developing 3D-printers and photopolymers for 3D biofabrication, RF drivers, circuit-board ion transport structures and tools for ion-mobility and mass spectrometry. For industry, Luke builds remote sensing, UAV and robotic systems, sensor networks, machine learning and computer vision systems. In space, Luke’s interests include nanosatellite design, extreme miniaturisation such as the Sprite femtosatellite, and miniaturised ion engines. Luke has worked with the Australian Space Research Institute, Lunar Numbat and White Label Space on control electronics for rocket engines in Australia’s AUSROC launch vehicles, instrumentation payloads for ASRI’s Zuni sounding rockets, and low-cost radar for lunar descent, initially for White Label Space’s efforts towards the Google Lunar X-Prize.
More Event Info
More Project Info
https://www.x0lab.com/desertrover
What inspired you to make this project?
In 2018 I spent 2 weeks in a simulated Lunar habit with 5 other crew members, this was a fantastic and rewarding experience. During this time, I had the opportunity to operate a robotic rover which is where the inspiration originated. Now that Australia has it's own space agency and there is a local push to generate jobs within the space section we are keen to promote multiple STEAM disciplines in a fun and unique context.