Meet the new Astropolitics Working Group conveners
The Astropolitics Working Group welcome four new conveners, Dr Thomas Cheny, Dr Marieta Valdivia Lefort, Dr Marjan Ajevski and Thomas Knight who are excited to lead the group.
Dr Thomas Cheney
Dr Thomas Cheney is an Assistant Professor in Law at Northumbria University. Prior to working at Northumbria, he worked at the Open University School of Law and the AstrobiologyOU research group. Thomas is an expert on space governance with a specific focus on natural resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and the legal issues relating to astrobiology. He is currently undertaking a Leverhulme funded project on the definition of 'harmful contamination’ in Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty.
Dr Marieta Valdiva Lefort
Marieta Valdivia Lefort is a space policy and regulatory affairs specialist working across science policy, spectrum governance, astronomy protection, and space sustainability, with particular expertise in Dark and Quiet Skies, satellite constellations, radio-frequency interference, space law, and lunar exploration and governance. She holds roles across the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), Space Court Foundation (SCF), and Earth-Space Sustainability Initiative (ESSI).
Dr Marjan Ajevski
Dr Marjan Ajevski is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the Open University Law School. Prior to coming to the Law School, Marjan was a Visiting-Research Fellow at NYU's Program for International Relations, a post-doc for the PluriCourts Centre of Excellence at the University of Oslo, Norway, and a PhD researcher at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, where he has also been a visiting lecturer. Marjan is interested in all things related to outer space. His current research uses his experience with global governance to explore the challenges of space governance, especially beyond LEO (Low Earth Orbit).
Thomas Knight (Social Media Officer)
Thomas Knight is a PhD Candidate at Canterbury Christ Church University studying the linkages between Political Economy and Space Hegemony. He is also a Managing Editor for the European Review of International Studies (ERIS).