Harassment at Antarctic research bases has sparked concerns about the safety of future moon and Mars outposts. According to a new survey, over 40% of respondents experienced sexual assault or harassment during recent Antarctic expeditions. This is similar to environments found in space, such as spacecraft and potential lunar or Martian bases.
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has pledged to work with participants and other organizations to assess, prevent, and follow up on incidents. The organization aims to create a culture free from sexual violence in remote environments.
A study published in Nature highlighted the challenges of addressing harassment in isolated settings, citing potential budget cuts and decreased government support for diversity and inclusion initiatives. However, NSF has committed to using survey results to improve program continuity.
The new survey involved 2,760 individuals who deployed with the NSF Office of Polar Programs between 2022 and 2024. The findings suggest that more than half of those affected by incidents were female, and nearly half witnessed an incident while deployed for one to four years.
To address these issues, NSF recommends decreasing victimization and bystander incidents, increasing formal reporting and informal disclosures, promoting positive norms related to intervening as a bystander, and improving supervisors’ engagement in prevention efforts. The organization has already implemented some of the report’s recommendations, including case tracking and improved bystander intervention training.
As space agencies prepare for long-duration missions on the moon and Mars, concerns about harassment and isolation must be taken seriously. By learning from experiences in Antarctica and implementing effective strategies to prevent and address these issues, organizations can create safer environments for future space travelers.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/harassment-at-antarctic-research-bases-could-spell-problems-for-moon-mars-outposts