In our second CIDR Talk at the Center for Interdisciplinary Disaster Research, we had the pleasure of welcoming Gloria Kutscher and Derin Kent. Their talk addressed a situation common in many extreme or isolated work settings: What happens when coworkers live and work together in the same space, day and night, with very little privacy? Drawing on research with cargo ship crews, the speakers showed how constant co-presence shapes everyday work life. In such environments, professional and personal moments often occur in the same shared spaces—from work tasks to family phone calls or personal celebrations.

🔍 One key insight:
People develop different spatial strategies to manage limited privacy, such as

• creating small moments or places of retreat,
• showing mutual discretion when sensitive situations arise,
• or accepting limited privacy as part of the work environment.

💡 What can practitioners learn from this?

Privacy is not only a personal issue—it is also crucial for team functioning, trust, and long-term resilience in demanding environments. In contexts such as disaster response, field research, offshore work, or humanitarian missions, the design of space and opportunities for retreat can significantly affect how well teams cope with pressure.

Many thanks to our speakers and participants for the engaging discussion! 🙌

Please take a look at the upcoming dates for our CIDR Talk series, featuring fascinating insights from international experts.