Talk title: A Critical Investigation of the Mental Health of Astronauts: Implications for Systems

Speaker affiliation: Patrick Stacey is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Information Management (CIM) at Loughborough University. His research focuses on the humanistic side of systems design and use. He employs a range of analytical lenses to systems phenomena, including structuration theory, appraisal theory, Kantian philosophy and Archerian reflexivity. Such research is partly based on external grants he has from the British Academy and Leverhulme. He is head of the Space Research Group at Loughborough, guest editor at Sustainability, and Senior Editor at IT & People. He is a visiting associate professor at the University of British Columbia.

Talk abstract: The aim of this research is to critically investigate the emotional aspects of astronaut mental health. Astronauts are not bulletproof and are subject to the same emotions as any civilian. There have been emotional outbursts by many astronauts including one involving attempted assault. Emotional health is also important in systems use in a range of situations from gamification to cancer care. But we have no knowledge of emotional health within the context of space systems. In this extreme environment we expect to learn a great deal that can inform systems research, for users and designers.