Irene Lia Schlacht is an European researcher. Her aim is to increase the quality of life in extreme environments by supporting the intersensory experiences of the user with scientific and cultural research. She is researching and teaching at Technische Universität Berlin at the Chair of Human-Machine Systems under the tutelage of Prof. M. Rötting. After an internship in Space Design at Thales Alenia Space in 2005, she was a Human Factor researcher for space at Università di Torino under Prof. M. Masali. In 2006, she graduated in Design at Politecnico di Milano with a thesis on “Color Requirement in Outer Space Habitats,” supported by Prof. D. Riccò. In September 2006, as part of the ESA parabolic flight student campaign, she led and performed the “CROMOS” experiment on colour perception in microgravity. The experiment received an award from ELGRA in 2007. From 2005 until today, she has led international student groups in research the relation between quality of life and intersensory experience in extreme environment. In 2010, she was called on by ILEWG (International Lunar Exploration Working Group) to investigate the on intersensory experiences during one of the Mars Society Mission simulations in the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) with support from SKOR (Foundation Art and Public Space). Since 2008, she has been coordinating an international research group called Extreme-Design with outer space experts from humanities and science disciplines, including space art, space psychology, space ergonomics, space design and space anthropology as well as with experts in sensory experiences applied to outer space habitats.
