Research explores the impact of isolation, confinement and stress in environments such as space, Antarctica, or the deep sea
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Professor Pedro Quinteiro, from Universidade Lusófona, recently presented the latest developments in his research on isolated, confined, and extreme environments in the context of work and scientific missions. The lecture, aimed at the academic community, highlighted how these extreme conditions—from space stations and submarines to Antarctic bases—influence human behaviour, team performance, and mental health.
According to the researcher, these environments, although unusual in the daily lives of most people, offer a unique opportunity to study human adaptability, both individually and collectively.
The research combines methods from psychology, anthropology, and participant observation, including real expeditions to Antarctica and caves in the Azores, as well as collaborations with the European Space Agency and the Portuguese Navy. One of the featured projects is Subsea, which analyses, using physiological and psychological data, the impact of confinement on underwater missions.
In addition to its scientific relevance, Pedro Quinteiro emphasised the importance of interpersonal relationships for success in extreme contexts: “It is the human dynamics that, ultimately, make everything else work.”
Guest
Pedro Quinteiro – Associate Professor at the School of Economic and Organizational Sciences at Universidade Lusófona
Production
Filipa Cavém
Images
Filipa Cavém and Cristo Chikale
Editing
Cristo Chikale
News
Filipa Cavém
