Emma M. Louden is an astrophysicist and space entrepreneur who is committed to helping ambitious humans who are committed creating the future find their place in space. Louden found her place in space at a young age. She fell in love with the NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity and the journey they were on to learn about other planets. As she got older, her love for space exploration manifested itself as a passion for astrophysics. As an astrophysics Ph.D. candidate at Yale University, Louden studies the geometry of exoplanetary systems. She uses the kind of thinking spurred by this inquiry to help humanity develop a consciousness that puts the Solar System in context—Earth’s precarious position in the universe becomes clearer.

As a side project in 2018, Louden started exploring the NewSpace industry and the opportunities within it for high-achieving students who are committed to creating a better world. As she delved deeper into the industry, she found an unexpected opportunities to engage with the new companies starting exploration as a woman in STEM.

This impact led Louden 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 her.

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Astrophysical Sciences and minors in Astrobiology and Latin American Studies from Princeton University. After that she went on to her Ph.D. at Yale University where she is currently a second-year graduate student. Louden works at the intersection of academia and the space industry and is a strategic thinker and leader who is passionate about being a steward of the story of the relationship between space exploration and humanity.

Louden also is a space informatics analyst and EarthDNA Ambassador. She is a co-founder of the Ask-A-Brookie Mentorship program and the Princeton Undergraduate Women in Physics program. Louden 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, ASCEND, and the Jasper Dark Sky Festival. She was recently named one of the STEM Reinventors of the Year for 2021. As a sought-after speaker, Louden travels around the world as a steward of the story of the next phase of space exploration and empowering the next generation of women in STEM.

Sustainability, Science, Space, Aerospace Engineering, Astrophysics, Female Leadership, Women, Inspirational, Women's Empowerment, STEM, Research & Exploration, Influential Women, Women in Tech