Emma Johanna Puranen

Dr Emma Johanna Puranen is a postdoctoral research associate in astrobiology ethics at The Open University. Her current project investigates the viability of Antarctica as an environmental ethics analogue for human activity in outer space, furthering study into the relational trajectories between the icy continent and space. Her interdisciplinary background includes research at the intersection of data science, literature, and astronomy, and includes experience in the museum sector working on the historic Antarctic research ship RRS Discovery in Dundee, Scotland, as well as designing a museum exhibition on exoplanets for the Wardlaw Museum entitled Alien Worlds. An early career researcher, Puranen is a member of APECS and part of the Polar Archive Network.

Research projects / interests:

• Antarctica as an environmental ethics analogue for outer space
• Environmental code of conduct for subglacial lake research
• History of the ATS
• Early Antarctic science

Areas of interest:

• Environmental Ethics
• Astrobiology and Antarctica as an analogue for outer space
• Science and Technology Studies
• Antarctic Humanities
• Antarctic Treaty System
• Antarctic History
• Science communication
• Science fiction

Keywords: Environmental ethics, Antarctic humanities, space humanities, astrobiology