
The award was established in memory of Dr Boynton, a flight surgeon in the US Army Air Corp in World War II who devoted his career to the development of flight safety and survival. His most notable work was in high altitude parachute experiments, something which ultimately cost him his life when making a test jump from 43,000 feet, in August 1944. For an unknown reason his chute failed to open and he was found dead in a cornfield.
Joan (former Director of Space Life Sciences division, NASA) and I have recently launched a book together,
A Gravidade - Esta Grande Escultora (EdiPUCRS) and are planning to promote it together in São Paulo & Rio de Janeiro later this year.