BLiSS+Sim+Meet+the+Team

MEET THE TEAM - To contact any of the BLiSS Sim iPad App development team, send an email to BLiSS-Sim@cet.edu

**Andrew Harrison**, is an web application developer for the Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University. Andrew creates data-driven applications, simulations, games, and other interactive experiences for CET web-based projects. Here's what Andrew says about programming the BLiSS Sim as the WJU/CET first iPad app project, "Mobile development is the "hot new trend" for programmers. So when NASA awarded us a grant to develop apps for the iPad I was quite excited. Being a web-developer, the iOS development cycle had a steep learning curve at first. But once I created my first touch screen interactive demo I was hooked. It's always fun learning something new."

**Cassie Lightfritz**, graphic designer for the Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University, designed the layout for the interactive BLiSS Sim interface. She has won multiple national awards for her graphic design work for CET and WJU. “One of my favorite things to design is an interactive interface," says Cassie, "and it was especially exciting creating an interactive iPad app for NASA. I did a lot of research about hydroponics and growing plants in space and became inspired by the different hydroponic systems, which influenced parts of the interface design. I wanted the app to visually reflect what it is like to grow plants in space. It was great to have the opportunity to create designs for the growing iPad app venue."

**Laurie Ruberg, Ph.D.**, associate director of the Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University, project manager and featured blogger for the NASATalkweb-based collaborative. As the project lead and senior instructional designer for the BioBLAST project, a high school biology education project that includes four interactive simulations based on NASA Advanced Life Support research. “There are thousands of apps available in the iTunes store,” Laurie explains, "but what makes this app unique and highly desirable is that it uses a game format to engage youth and adults in the challenges of supporting humans in space or extreme environments on Earth. In the BLiSS Sim players learn how four plant types—wheat, potatoes, soybeans and lettuce—can be grown and harvested to supply human oxygen, water and food needs. Anyone interested in plants, human space travel or planning biological sustainability here on Earth will want to have this app that is based on NASA advanced life support research.”

**Charles A. Wood, Ph.D.**, director of the Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University, and PI of NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future, which funded the development of the BLiSS Sim iPad app. In addition to serving as PI and lead scientist on NASA, NIH, NSF, and Benedum Foundation education development projects at the center, he is also an investigator in the Cassini mission to Saturn. Chuck a longtime NASA scientist, said the BLiSS Sim provides food for thought, so to speak, regarding long-term space missions. “At home we might plan our meals, make a shopping list and purchase our perishable and processed food supplies at the grocery store as we need them. On a Moon or Mars base we must plan far in advance the crops we plant and grow because we’ll rely on them for our supply of oxygen, water and food,” Wood said. “This is what the BLiSS Sim iPad app is designed to do—help future space travelers learn how to plan a crop growth system that can support a human crew for long periods of time when frequent resupply is not feasible. Taking advantage of the education potential of an iPad app is a great way for youth and adults alike to learn what’s involved in long-duration space travel.”

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