Dana Burton

Dana Burton is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Design at The New School for Social Research. Her work intersects the anthropology of outer space, feminist science and technology studies, and multispecies studies. She explores astrobiology through fieldwork with scientists in the Atacama Desert, NASA facilities, and planetary models. Burton also incorporates artistic practices, including dance, painting, and poetry, into her research and teaching.

Education: PhD in Anthropology from George Washington University (2023).

Research interests focus on outer space exploration, multispecies relations, planetary infrastructure, and the ethics of space missions. Her work critiques colonial practices in space science and emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration between anthropology, design, and STEM fields.

Publications span essays on planetary futures, astrobiology ethics, and anti-racist methodologies in anthropology. Her recent work includes contributions to Future Histories (2024) and the Handbook for Social Studies of Outer Space (2023).

• Grants: Wenner-Gren Foundation Chrysalis Grant (2023-2024), NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (2020).
• Fellowships: Society for the History of Technology-NASA Fellowship (2019-2020), American Philosophical Society residency (2022).

Teaching includes courses on anthropology/design, sensory methods, and planetary studies. She advises on projects blending artistic and scientific inquiry, fostering critical engagement with technoscientific futures.