Dr Nathan Smith FRGS is a senior research scientist conducting studies on human performance and health in extreme environments. In the past, Nathan has conducted research with expedition groups operating in polar, desert, mountain and maritime environments, with military personnel and Antarctic research scientists, among others.
He is currently an Honorary Lecturer within the University of Exeter Medical School providing support to the Extreme Medicine MSc programme co-delivered with World Extreme Medicine. Nathan contributed to the development of the situational awareness and human factors module for expedition medics, preparing doctors to operate in demanding environmental situations.
At present, Nathan is collaborating with Emma on multiple projects linked to expedition psychology including transitioning from challenging environments and a British Army Reserves expedition across Antarctica. He has also recently been invited as a co-investigator on an ESA project linked to changes in motivation during human spaceflight.
Selected publications
Smith, N., Barrett, E., & Sandal, G. M. (under review). Monitoring daily events, coping strategies and emotion during a desert crossing in the Middle East. Submitted to Stress & Health.
Smith, N., & Sandal, G. M. (in press). Individual resilience. In T. Sgobba, B. Kanki, J-F. Clervoy & G. M. Sandal (Eds.), Space Safety and Human Performance (pp. 20-30). Elsevier.
Smith, N., & Sandal, G. M. (in press). Analog mission research. In T. Sgobba, B. Kanki, J-F. Clervoy & G. M. Sandal (Eds.), Space Safety and Human Performance (pp. 24-31). Elsevier.
Smith, N. (In press). Relations between self-reported and linguistic monitoring assessments of affective experience in an extreme environment. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine.
Smith, N., Sandal, G., Leon, G., & Kjaergaard, A. (2017). Examining personal values in extreme environments: Revisiting the question of generlisability. Acta Astronautica, 137, 138-144.
Smith, N., Kinnafick, F., & Saunders, B. (2017) Coping strategies used during an extreme Antarctic expedition. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, 13, 1-9.
Smith, N., Kinnafick, F., Cooley, S., & Sandal, G. (2016). Reported growth following mountaineering expeditions: The role of personality and perceived stress. Environment and Behavior, 43, 933-955.