In this episode, Martin & JP talk to Nathalie Pattyn about human performance in operational environments. They discuss the importance of rest and recovery in training, the role of robustness and the challenges of leadership in high-performance settings. Nathalie has extensive experience working in Antarctica, and the conversation explores the adaptability required to excel in that environment.

Guest, Cast & Crew

Nathalie Pattyn is an emergency doctor, psychologist and academic with 30 years of experience in the Belgian defence force. She heads up VIPER – a research unit that investigates human performance in selected populations, from astronauts to special forces candidates.

Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk

Produced & edited by Bess Manley

Resources

• Nathalie’s open-access book ‘Handbook of Mental Performance’ https://tinyurl.com/yxwa7n23
• VIPER’s publications http://viper.rma.ac.be/pub/index.html
• ‘An Astronaut’s Guide to Life’ by Chris Hadfield https://tinyurl.com/57b8yw6t

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Chapters

01:09 Founding the Viper Research Unit

01:57 Research Focus and Applications

02:54 Training for Extreme Roles

04:23 The Importance of Rest and Recovery

05:37 Selection and Robustness

14:44 Challenges in Selection Processes

24:22 Antarctic Missions and Remote Medicine

31:46 Cognitive and Physiological Research

38:50 Emerging Technologies and Practical Advice

42:18 Leadership and Duty of Care

46:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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