Dafydd Williams

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Dafydd Rhys Williams (born May 16, 1954) is a retired Canadian astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). He had a distinguished career in medicine before becoming an astronaut, specializing in emergency medicine and trauma care. Williams is also a public speaker, author, and advocate for science education.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Williams was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Beaconsfield, Quebec. He completed his undergraduate studies at McGill University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1976. He then went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine degree from McGill University in 1983.

Medical Career[edit | edit source]

After completing his medical degree, Williams worked as an emergency physician and director of emergency services at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. He also served as a professor of surgery at the University of Toronto. His work in trauma care has been recognized internationally, and he has published numerous papers on the subject.

Astronaut Career[edit | edit source]

Williams was selected by the CSA in 1992 to become one of four new astronauts. He completed his astronaut training in 1995 and was assigned to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. During his career as an astronaut, Williams flew on two space shuttle missions, STS-90 and STS-118, logging over 687 hours in space. He also performed three spacewalks, totaling almost 18 hours outside the spacecraft.

Post-Astronaut Career[edit | edit source]

After retiring from the CSA in 2008, Williams has continued to advocate for science education and space exploration. He has written two books, "Defying Limits: Lessons from the Edge of the Universe" and "The Darkest Dark", which aim to inspire young people to pursue careers in science and technology.

Honours and Awards[edit | edit source]

Williams has received numerous awards and honours for his contributions to space exploration and medicine. These include the NASA Space Flight Medal, the Canadian Forces Decoration, and the Order of Canada.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

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