How can human beings confined in closed and hostile spaces, from different cultures and subjected to extreme psychological stress, not only survive together, but create real communities in space? How can we understand the human dimension of space exploration?
Let’s take a look back at the young researchers’ workshop held on November 24, which addressed this question through the presentation of two research projects related to Research Area 3 of the Space Chair.
“Cooperating in extreme environments: from Antarctic stations to manned flights. The question of analogues”
Susie Pottier is a postdoctoral researcher in anthropology at the Espace Chair.
She defended her thesis in 2022 on the topic “Wintering in Antarctica: a study of community building in an inhospitable and isolated environment.” Before coming to Paris for her postdoctoral studies, Susie Pottier was an Adjunct Researcher at the University of Western Australia (2023–2024).
She recently published “Exchanged time in shared isolation: circulation of debt in Antarctica” (2024, Antarctic Science).
Susie Pottier is currently working on issues of sustainability and environmental protection in the Japanese space program.
During the session, she presented the diversity of “analogues” before addressing the issue of cooperation in Antarctica and space.
“Intercultural management of human spaceflight”
Delphine Urbah is project manager at the Ile de France Space Academy.
She wrote her master’s thesis on the geopolitical and legal issues of interculturality in human spaceflight (PSL-EPHE / EHESS).
Her presentation focused on ritual practices in space habitats.
