Teamwork in Extreme and Dynamic Environments

In recent years, the study of teamwork and leadership in extreme environments has gained increasing relevance in psychological, organizational, and behavioral sciences. Contexts such as polar expeditions, space missions, deep-sea operations, and high-risk emergency scenarios provide unique natural laboratories for understanding human behavior under pressure, with clear applications to dynamic phases within traditional business settings. These environments challenge conventional leadership and team-dynamics models, requiring rapid adaptation, shared decision-making, resilience, and trust under isolation, uncertainty, and physical and psychological stress.This course examines how individuals and teams operate, communicate, and lead in dynamic and extreme environments, drawing on multidisciplinary research from psychology, cognitive science, human factors, and organizational behavior. Special attention is given to empirical studies in analog environments such as Antarctica and space missions, now central in understanding the limits and potential of human collaboration. Through case studies, simulations, and critical discussions, students will develop conceptual frameworks and practical tools to analyze and promote effective teamwork and leadership in high-stakes contexts.