The Northern Illinois University Law Review will host its 2022 Symposium on “Sustainable Development in Space Law: Ethical and Economic Considerations of Settlement in Outer Space” as a hybrid program on Friday, April 8 from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm.
Register now to join as the Symposium will explore how space law is becoming increasingly important to practicing lawyers due to the significant rise in outer space activity. Similar to general international law, space law comprises a variety of international agreements, treaties, conventions, and UN General Assembly resolutions, in addition to the rules and regulations of international and domestic organizations. Some nations have domestic legislation governing space activity. The advent of commercial activities in outer space like mining, tourism, private exploration, and the development of commercial spaceports have led many countries to consider how to regulate private space activity. What considerations are taken when regulating these activities in a manner that does not preclude investment while ensuring that commercial activities comply with international law?
DATE: Friday, April 8
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(Breakfast available from 8-8:45 a.m.; Program begins at 8:50 a.m.)
LOCATION: Altgeld Hall Auditorium Room 315 at NIU’s DeKalb campus or Virtual. Parking is available in the Visitor Pay Lot on Carroll Avenue. Parking is free for Symposium attendees. Your name will be given to parking attendant at the gate following registration.
This is a hybrid event that will take place in person and virtually. The link will be provided following registration.
COST:
$25 – General attendees
Register Now
Financial Hardship Policy
NIU faculty, staff and students are FREE (contact Melody Mitchell to RSVP)
Note: Registration is required by April 1
MCLE CREDIT
5.5 hours MCLE credit for attorneys approved.
MATERIALS
Speaker presentation materials.
SYMPOSIUM AGENDA
8:00 am – 8:45 am
Breakfast provided
8:50 am
Welcome and Introductions
9:00 – 10:00 am
International Law in Space
Featured Speaker: Christopher Johnson, Secure World Foundation
Christopher Johnson is the Space Law Advisor at the Secure World Foundation, and a Professor of Law (Adjunct) at the Georgetown University Law Center where he co-teaches the Space Law Seminar. He is also a Faculty Member at the International Space University and a Member of the International Institute of Space Law. Mr. Johnson has written widely on space law and policy issues and represents the Secure World Foundation at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor’s of Art degree from Michigan State University, a Juris Doctor from New York Law School, and an Advanced Masters in Law in Air and Space Law from Leiden University’s International Institute of Air and Space Law. He also has professional certificates from New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice, the European Centre for Space Law, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law.
Mr. Johnson is also a Core Expert and Rule Drafter in the MILAMOS project, an observer at the Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group, a Field Editor at the Journal of Space Safety Engineering, on the Board of Editors of the journal Air and Space Law, and on the Academic Review Board of the Cambridge International Law Journal.
10:00 am – 11:00 am
The Economics of Space Settlement
Jim Plaxco, Chicago Society for Space Studies
Jim Plaxco is President of the Chicago Society for Space Studies. In addition, he serves as the Economics SME for the National Space Society’s Space Ambassadors program and as a NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador.
Mr. Plaxco has previously served as the National Space Society’s Director of Information Systems, as NSS Data Protection Officer, as a NSS Vice President, and was twice elected to the NSS Board of Directors. Other relevant non-profit experience includes serving as President of the Northern Illinois Space Advocacy, Vice President of the Planetary Studies Foundation, as a member of the Enterprise in Space Board of Advisors, as Manager of the Enterprise in Space Orbiter Design Contest, and as a judge in a variety of space art contests sponsored by NASA, IAA, and NSS.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Working in Space: The Final Frontier of Remote Work
Alyson Decker, Alyson Claire Law
Alyson Claire Decker is the owner of Alyson Claire Law, a Southern California law practice that specializes in fractional general counsel legal services, private mediations, and space law. Ms. Decker is an experienced general counsel, litigator, board member, executive, space attorney, and an employment law guru.
She currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor at University of La Verne College of Law. Ms. Decker is also a Legal Advisor to Jus Ad Astra, an organization focused on bringing human rights to the stars, and a member of the advisory board for Smokey Hawk Solitons, an aerospace propulsion startup.
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Lunch provided
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Government Ethics and Space Sustainability
Featured Speaker: Adam Greenstone, NASA
Adam F. Greenstone is NASA’s Agency Counsel for Ethics. Mr. Greenstone manages NASA’s Government Ethics program, which advises NASA employees and leaders on U.S. Government standards of ethical conduct and related ethics laws. Supported by ethics officials at each NASA Center, NASA’s Government Ethics program advances NASA’s mission by helping ensure that NASA and its employees maintain the public’s trust. Mr. Greenstone has also authored the article “Ethics and public integrity in space exploration,” Acta Astronautica, Volume 143 (2018), and serves on the Enterprise Risk Management Committee of the International Astronautical Federation.
Prior to returning to NASA in 2004, where he originally practiced from 1992-97, Mr. Greenstone was the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel of the Office of Administration, Executive Office of the President. As a career civil service attorney, he provided legal counsel and advice for a range of activities within the Executive Office of the President, including ethics, employment, information disclosure, information security, procurement and the establishment of White House interagency groups. Earlier in his career he served as the law clerk to the Honorable Eugene R. Sullivan, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Military Appeals (now the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces).
Mr. Greenstone is a recipient of NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College, his Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and his law degree from George Washington University. Mr. Greenstone has also participated in executive education at Carnegie Mellon University and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and New York. Mr. Greenstone also volunteers as a Director on the board of directors of the NASA Federal Credit Union and is certified as a Financial Risk Manager (FRM) by the Global Association of Risk Professionals.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Galactic Accessibility: Interplanetary Human Rights Law through Crip Legal Theory
AJ Link, Jus Ad Astra
AJ Link (he/him) is openly autistic. He received his JD from The George Washington University Law School. AJ is currently pursuing an LL.M in Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, while also serving as the inaugural director of The Center for Air and Space Law Task Force on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Aerospace. He works as a research director for the Jus Ad Astra project and serves as president and executive director of the National Disabled Law Students Association, which he co-founded.
AJ has been actively involved with disability advocacy in the Washington, DC area and nationally within the United States. He serves on several advisory boards and steering committees that focus on disability advocacy and broader social justice movements.
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Panel Discussion and Questions
*Schedule subject to change
