Space Law, Data and Policy Space Diplomacy Symposium 2024

As the numbers and types of space actors increase, the importance of diplomacy will increase in maintaining cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the space domain. The aim of the annual Space Diplomacy Symposium (SDS) is to situate diplomacy in the traditional categories of civilian, commercial and military space activities across all regions of the world.

When

Oct. 25, 2024

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where

Walker-Ames Room, Kane Hall
University of Washington

This symposium is made possible by the Space Law, Data and Policy (SPACE LDP) Program at the UW School of Law, in partnership with the Program on Strategy, Policy and Diplomacy Research (SPDR) at The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington, working with members of the supporters circle at the University of Washington, Durham University, Northeastern University, and McGill University; and with sponsors Perkins Coie and the Council on Foreign Relations.

The Space Law, Data and Policy Program (SPACE LDP), UW School of Law

Saadia M. Pekkanen, Founding Director, SPACE LDP; Founding Director, SPDR; Job and Gertrud Tamaki Endowed Professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and Adjunct Professor at the UW School of Law; Member, International Institute of Space Law; and Member, Council on Foreign Relations

Scott Schumacher, Director, Global Business Law Institute (GBLI) and Professor of Law, University of Washington School of Law

Supporters Circle

P.J. Blount, Assistant Professor of Space Law, Durham University's Space Research Centre; and Executive Secretary of the International Institute of Space Law

Mai'a K. Davis Cross, Dean’s Professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Diplomacy; and Director of the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures, Northeastern University; Member, Council on Foreign Relations

Andrea Harrington, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law; and Co-Director of the Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University

Kristi Morgansen, Professor and Chair, Aeronautics & Astronautics, University of Washington; Senior Member, IEEE; Fellow AIAA; Washington State Academy of Sciences; Founding Co-Director, UW SPARC

Schedule

9:15–9:30 a.m.
Welcome Remarks

Saadia M. Pekkanen, SPACE LDP, UW School of Law; SPDR, Jackson School, University of Washington
Scott Schumacher, Director, GBLI; Professor of Law, University of Washington

9:30–10:15 a.m.
Principal Keynote: Diplomacy in the World Order

The purpose of this segment is to offer broad reflections on the role, practice and relevance of diplomacy in the international relations of space. The speaker will raise public awareness of essential topics in the space domain in which diplomacy will be necessary to pursue opportunities and resolve differences in the peaceful interests of all.

Presider: Saadia M. Pekkanen

Keynote Speaker: Nina Armagno, Corporate Board Member and National Security Executive; Member, Council on Foreign Relations; and Lt. General (Ret.), United States Space Force

10:30–11:45 a.m.
Panel 1: Space Security and Military Space Diplomacy

The purpose of this segment is to showcase allied diplomatic initiatives for peace in, through, and at the nexus of space and the principal challenges these efforts face from the tactical to the strategic level.

Presider: Tarah Wheeler, Senior Fellow for Global Cyber Policy, Council on Foreign Relations; CEO, Red Queen Dynamic; Board Member, Electronic Frontier Foundation

Panelists:

Sarah Babbit, Col. USAF, Commander of the Department of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 910
Jagnath “Jay” Sankaran, Assistant Professor, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin; Nonresident Fellow in Foreign Policy Program, Brookings Institution
J. Blount, Assistant Professor of Space Law, Durham University's Space Research Centre; and Executive Secretary of the International Institute of Space Law
Sean Cantrell, Director of International Government Engagement, Maxar Intelligence

12–12:45 p.m.

Lunch

1–2:15 p.m.
Panel 2: Governments and Prospects for Civil Space Diplomacy

The purpose of this segment is to highlight how and why actors across all regions of the world – i.e. Africa, Americas, Arctic, Asia, Australia & New Zealand & Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Russia and Eurasia – are forging diplomatic pathways to sustain space exploration, development and prosperity.

Presider: Casey Dreier, Director and Head of Strategic Planning for Advocacy and Policy, The Planetary Society

Panelists:

Melissa Rice, Associate Professor of Planetary Science, Western Washington University
Mai’a K. Davis Cross, Dean’s Professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Diplomacy, Director of the Center for International Affairs & World Cultures, Northeastern University
Andrea Harrington, Co-Director, Institute of Air and Space Law, Associate Professor of Law, McGill University Associate Professor of Law; and Co-Director, Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University
Meredith Rawls, Research Scientist, UW Department of Astronomy; Co-leader of SatHub, International Astronomical Union Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky

2:30–3:45 p.m.:
Panel 3: Perspectives on Space Diplomacy at the Commercial Nexus

The purpose of this segment is to assess the ways diplomacy opens opportunities in the global space economy for private actors and can be positioned to resolve commercial, legal and policy challenges across sovereign borders.

Presider: Michael Doyle, Senior Manager, Software Development – Amazon; President, Space Northwest

Panelists:

Ben Straughan, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Attorney, Co-Chair of NewSpace Practice, Perkins Coie
Allison Crutchfield, Senior Counsel and Senior Director of Space Flight Policy, Stokespace; Board of Directors Member, Commercial Spaceflight Federation
Jeff Liu, Mission Management and Project Execution, Starfish Space; former Amazon.com Senior Manager of Technical Product Management.
Diana Jack, International Government Relations & Strategy Lead, Blue Origin

3:45 p.m.: Closing Remarks

Saadia M. Pekkanen, UW

RECEPTION

4:15–6:30 p.m.