Help Me Get to SCAR 2024 to Present My Psychology Study

Hi, my name is Viktoria Urban and I am fundraising for travel expenses so that I can get to SCAR 2024 (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) Open Science Conference where I would be presenting my study titled "Autism Spectrum Disorder as a State of Psychological Hibernation During Antarctic Expeditions and Deep-Space Missions" which has been accepted by the conference committee.

You can read a copy of my abstract here:

Human space travel has introduced adverse effects to the human body caused by the extreme environment, which NASA has been investigating for over 50 years now through its Human Research Program. Along with the physical strains resulting from microgravity and cosmic radiation among others, space agencies emphasize the importance of understanding the psychological effects of human space travel as well, especially in preparation to deep-space missions. Establishing bases on the moon and reaching as far as Mars with the possibility of colonizing the planet makes it crucial to better understand the human mind’s workings under isolation and confinement in a stressful environment where conflict resolution is key to mission success. Analog missions on Antarctica, where extreme environments are easily replicated, serve as test beds for psychological experiments.

Sandal et al. (2018) mentions that during a 520-day confinement study (Sandal and Bye, 2015) on the continent resulted in crew members seeking reduced stimulation, and emotional flatness as a coping mechanism. This state of “psychological hibernation” resembles the traits of a neurodevelopmental disorder, namely Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is characterized by “persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, including deficits in social reciprocity, nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction…” Sonnentag and Bayer (2005) claim that this type of detachment can actually have benefits.

This paper aims to examine whether excluding people with neurodevelopmental disorders from Antarctic missions - and space travel by extension - is a mistake, whether people who already arrive to harsh working conditions where repetitive tasks and strict schedules are required, in the state of “psychological hibernation” could be useful additions to these expeditions and space missions.

Unfortunately, for various reasons I am not able to pay for my travel or accommodation, which would mean me losing out on this wonderful opportunity that could propel my career in the right direction as I am headed for a Clinical Psychology PhD next year with the end goal of studying astronauts who go on deep-space missions. You could help my dream come true :)