ABOUT ME

Hometown: Park City, UT Residence: New Haven, CT

Emma Louden is an American astrophysicist, strategist, and speaker.

Raised in Park City, UT, she spent many nights outside looking up at the Milky Way through the crisp and clear mountain air. After falling in love with the NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity, Emma’s astrophysics pathway took off quickly. Since then, Emma has attended the Summer Science Program, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Princeton University, and been selected as a Brooke Owens Fellow and a Quad Fellow. Now, as an astrophysics Ph.D. candidate at Yale University, Emma studies the geometry of exoplanetary systems. Emma uses the kind of thinking spurred by this inquiry to help humanity develop a consciousness that puts the earth in context and advances space exploration for the common good. 

Outside of research, in 2018, Emma started exploring the NewSpace industry and its opportunities for high-achieving students committed to creating a better world. As Emma delved deeper into the industry, she found unexpected opportunities to engage with the new companies starting exploration as a woman in STEM.

This impact led Emma to build Space To Sparkle, a consultancy that connects ambitious students who are committed to creating a better world to new career paths in the space industry through career strategy workshops, an online community curated for people with a drive to change the world in STEM, and coaching experiences with Emma. Now in its second year, the organization has hosted events at conferences and universities across the country, including ASCEND, AAS, and Princeton University.

Emma also is a space strategy analyst and EarthDNA Ambassador. She co-founded the Ask-A-Brookie Mentorship program and serves on the American Astronomical Society Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy. Emma is deeply committed to sharing her passion for astronomy to spark curiosity and excitement in future scientists, especially minorities in STEM. She serves as a Young Professional Mentor for the Zed Factor Fellowship, and a lead for the SSP Connect mentorship program for alumni of the Summer Science Program. Her expertise has been featured in talks at TEDx, Yale Law School, NPR, and the Jasper Dark Sky Festival. She was named one of the STEM Reinventors of the Year for 2021. She also serves on the Future Space Economy Webcast Advisory Board for SATELLITE. As a sought-after speaker, Emma travels around the world as a steward of the story of the next phase of space exploration, empowering the next generation of students in STEM.

Quad Fellowship |ASCEND Diverse Dozen | TEDx(2023) | TEDx(2016) | KPCWxNPR