McGill Institute of Air and Space Law

06/05/2026

Last Thursday and Friday, the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law co-hosted the inaugural Africa Space Law and Policy Conference together with the University Of Pretoria, Faculty of Law, South African National Space Agency, DTIC, and Department of International Relations and Cooperation. This two-day event included multiple insightful panels on space law and policy on the African continent, discussing questions of financing, militarisation of outer space, and new national policy developments. Professor Andrea Harrington was on two panels at this event, talking about the importance of domestic law in Africa and the development of military space activities. Dr Arnold Agaba, Ph.D. moderated the panel on financing space activities. The IASL also sent two Doctoral Candidates to help with the running of the event, Mirette Elgawahry and Judith S. Jahnke. We look forward to organising this event again next year!
hashtag Space Law and Policy Conference

05/15/2026

05/05/2026

The Institute, represented by Dr Arnold Agaba, Ph.D. and Ms Mirette Elgawahry, had the pleasure of attending and participating in the NewSpace Africa Conference in Libreville, Gabon, organised by Space in Africa. The conference has become an important gathering of leaders and innovators shaping the future of the continent’s space ecosystem.

Dr Agaba contributed as a moderator for the panel on satellite navigation, facilitating insightful discussions, activities and policy on satellite navigation in Africa. He also stepped in on behalf of Mr Memme Onwudiwe during the panel on national regulation, contributing to critical conversations around policy, governance, and enabling frameworks for the space sector.

Ms Elgahwary was an active participant throughout the conference and intervened resourcefully. Ms Elgawahry also took part in the meeting of the African Women in Space network convened by H.E. Thandikile Mbvundula, Vice President of the Council of the African Space Agency, which reflected on how to support the eager and growing community of African women contributing to the continent’s space trajectory.

We extend our sincere appreciation to SatNav Africa JPO and Space in Africa for the kind invitation to be part of the Conference and for convening such a dynamic and impactful event.

05/01/2026

📅 Mark your calendars!

This September 9th, join us at the McGill Faculty Club to celebrate a landmark milestone: the 75th Anniversary of the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law.

For 75 years, IASL has helped shape the legal frameworks that govern our skies and outer space, and trained generations of world-class legal professionals who carry that work across the globe. Our legacy is one of scholarship, leadership, and lasting global impact — and our best years are still ahead!

Full program and registration details coming soon. We hope to see you there. ✈️🚀

📅 Réservez la date !

Le 9 septembre prochain, rejoignez-nous au Faculty Club de McGill pour célébrer une occasion exceptionnelle — le 75e anniversaire de l'Institut de droit aérien et spatial de McGill.

Depuis 75 ans, l'Institut contribue à façonner les cadres juridiques qui régissent nos cieux et l'espace extra-atmosphérique, et a formé des générations de juristes de calibre mondial qui poursuivent cette mission aux quatre coins du globe. Notre héritage est celui du savoir, du leadership et d'un impact durable à l'échelle internationale — et le meilleur reste à venir !

Le programme et les détails d'inscription seront communiqués prochainement. Nous espérons vous y voir nombreux. ✈️🚀

04/22/2026

We are thrilled that the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law brought home the top prize at the 17th Leiden-Sarin International Air Law Moot Court Competition held in Windhoek, Namibia.

The team representing the institute consisted of Qirui Zhou, Ida Bagus Mahawira Nawagani, and Yuk Wai Wong, who also won the individual award for best oralist. The team was coached by Dr. Arnold Agaba.

We thank the Government agencies of Namibia and the University of Namibia, who hosted the competition, as well as the International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL), Leiden University, and the Sarin Memorial Legal Foundation for organizing the competition.

04/16/2026

On Monday, Professor Andrea Harrington presented a technical paper for the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) on behalf of Taro Kuusiholma at the 2026 UNCOPUOS Legal Subcommittee, focusing on the need for legal review of the ATM/STM/SSA interface.

04/02/2026

We are pleased to announce that the 16th McGill Aviation Liability, Insurance and Finance Law Conference will take place on 10–11 September 2026 at the McGill Faculty Club in Montréal, Québec.

Hosted by the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law, this annual conference brings together leading practitioners, academics, and industry professionals to explore the most pressing legal, regulatory, and financial developments in the aviation sector.

Whether you work in aviation law, insurance, or finance, this is the premier gathering you won't want to miss.

📅 10–11 September 2026
📍 McGill Faculty Club, Montréal

Stay tuned for the full programme and registration details.

04/01/2026

The Call for Submissions for Volume 51 of the Annals of Air and Space Law is now open!

Like the previous Volume, we have an Authors' Guide and a Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement on our website for more information on publication requirements.

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L'appel à contributions pour le volume 51 des Annales du droit aérien et spatial est maintenant ouvert!

Comme pour le volume précédent, vous trouverez sur notre site web un Guide des Auteurs et une Déclaration Relative à l'éthique de Publication et aux Pratiques Répréhensibles qui vous fourniront de plus amples informations sur les conditions de publication.

03/30/2026

The McGill Institute of Air and Space Law is proud to celebrate this year’s team competing in the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. The team representing McGill University – Faculty of Law earned Best Memorials and advanced to the semi-finals of the North American Round, an outstanding achievement reflecting their dedication and talent.

This year’s team includes Scott Scoular, Arnaud-Roland Fricker, and Vanaya Patel. They were coached by DCL Candidate Martina Elia Vitoloni and advised by Institute Co‑Director Professor Andrea Harrington.

We also extend our sincere thanks to the Space Court Foundation and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) for organising this year’s competition and the North American Rounds.

03/26/2026

Members of the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law were proud to attend the 2nd Conference on Earth-Space Sustainability: Law, Stewardship, and Equity. The conference was held at Leiden University, the Netherlands and hosts researchers and practitioners to engage in thought-provoking discussions related to outer space governance and sustainable practices in outer space. As the outer space environment becomes used by more countries and private space enterprises, issues such as satellite infrastructure, space debris mitigation, planetary protection, data protection , and legal equity all warrant in-depth interdisciplinary discussions and reflections. Attendees from the Institute of Air and Space Law included Professor Andrea Harrington, Dr. Arnold Agaba, Ph.D., and DCL Candidate Martina Elia Vitoloni.

At the conference, the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law had the pleasure of organizing a successful workshop on planetary defense, which discussed the positions of certain stakeholders in the event of an asteroid threat. Furthermore, Dr. Agaba presented his co-authored paper titled “Look Up: Confronting the Ripple Effect of Planetary Defence in the International Community.” Additionally, Martina Elia Vitoloni presented her paper titled “Unpacking Intergenerational Equity and Its Implications in Space Law.” Both papers addressed timely issues relevant to debates in the sustainable development of outer space.

A big thanks to the organisers of the conference. International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL), Leiden University, PlanetStewards Project, Secure World Foundation, and the COST Association - European Cooperation in Science and Technology. Also, a thank you to Judith S. Jahnke Jahnke for helping to organize the workshop.