President, Slooh
Emma Cain Louden is President of Slooh, where she leads a digital space education platform designed to connect students directly with live telescope feeds, astronomy curriculum, and real pathways into the space workforce. Trained as an astrophysicist and widely regarded as a connector across academia, industry, and policy, Emma has built her career around translating technical complexity into shared understanding. Her leadership at Slooh reflects a deliberate shift toward closing gaps in the space workforce pipeline by aligning education, industry needs, and access at scale.
Emma came to Slooh after completing her PhD in Astrophysics at Yale University, following earlier undergraduate training at Princeton University. Her academic work focused on planetary formation and exoplanetary systems and resulted in extensive peer-reviewed publication, while also emphasizing real-world application. Alongside her research, she supervised students, organized large scientific convenings, served on telescope allocation committees managing high-value resources, and consistently translated scientific findings for policymakers and industry audiences.
That ability to bridge worlds became a defining feature of her work beyond academia. As Principal Investigator on a NASA-funded project, Emma developed the Satellite Impact Risk Index (SIRI), a framework that translates the effects of satellite constellations on ground-based astronomy into a shared language usable by astronomers, satellite operators, and policymakers alike. The tool has been used to move discussions of satellite-astronomy conflict from adversarial debate toward voluntary cooperation and early-stage mitigation, and has been presented at international forums including the International Astronautical Congress.
Her journey continued at Slooh, where she was appointed President in 2025 with full P&L responsibility. In this role, Emma leads cross-functional teams spanning product, curriculum, marketing, and partnerships, and works directly with aerospace and satellite companies to translate workforce needs into Career and Technical Education pathways. Endorsers note that she chose this role intentionally, recognizing that sustainable workforce development requires leaders who can engage credibly with educators, researchers, industry executives, and students at the same table.
Alongside her professional leadership, Emma maintains a deep commitment to mentorship and public engagement. She has led national mentorship programs for high-school and undergraduate students, delivered TEDx and international talks on inclusion and space access, and authored educational resources for audiences ranging from aspiring astrophysicists to young children. Colleagues and collaborators consistently describe her as someone who moves quickly, thinks deeply, and shows up for the next generation with intention and care.
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