The University of Iowa’s music therapy program turns 50 this year, and a graduate student is turning her own experience with spinal surgery into research that helps adolescents recovering from the same procedure.

Standing on the shoulders and in the former offices of space-science giants like James Van Allen, Don Gurnett and Craig Kletzing, a team of University of Iowa scientists beamed with pride this week at the campus’ new, state-of-the-art Spaceflight Laboratory.