Call for Papers: 2026 Athens International Young Scholars Conference on Space Law, 11-12 September 2026
Weaponising the Final Frontier: Outer Space Militarisation and the Legal Boundaries of Jus ad Bellum and Jus in Bello
- 11-12 September 2026
- Venue: Athens, Greece
- Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Call for papers
In an era marked by accelerated technological advancement, as well as geopolitical contestation, outer space is undergoing a profound transformation. Global reliance on space-based technologies has increased considerably, with satellite systems now underpinning essential services ranging from navigation and telecommunications to financial transactions, disaster response, and critical infrastructure. At the same time, threats to space assets have proliferated, whether arising from counter-space capabilities, the cyber domain or the growing accumulation of space debris.
These challenges are further compounded by the increasing number and diversity of actors involved in space activities, including both States and commercial operators, as well as by the rapid integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, quantum communication, and cyber-secure architectures into space systems.
The Conference invites students (from undergraduate to graduate and doctoral level) to critically examine these issues. Contributions may address questions de lege lata, through the interpretation of existing treaty and customary norms, and/or de lege ferenda, by proposing new regulatory approaches aimed at enhancing the safety, security, and sustainability of outer space activities.
Prospective speakers may submit an abstract of the proposed paper not exceeding 250 words by e-mail to: yscsl2026.athens@gmail.com , by 30 June 2026, 23:59 EEST.
For more details, refer here
