2015 – 2018: University of Sunderland - Bachelor of Law (LLB) Law (Hons): Dissertation Title: The UK Constitution: How the Miller Case changed and challenged the sovereignty of Parliament and tested the UK's constitutional resolve?
2018 – 2019: Newcastle University - Master of Laws (LLM) International Law: Dissertation Title: How does International law deal with the removal of space debris?
2019 – Present: (Provisional) Thesis Title: Lessons learnt from Earth: Can COSPAR be used for the enhancement of planetary protection and the cooperation and promotion of explorations of outer space activities by utilising space governance and astrobiology?
My current project is 'The future of the COSPAR Planetary Protection Guidelines: Space governance and astrobiology'. As a member of AstrobiologyOU and OU Law School, I am one of two members specialising in the subject of space governance. Working alongside colleagues, I can consider space sciences, technology and law to ask the question on how can COSPAR be used for planetary protection during space activities, in which contamination does not occur in the space environment.
My thesis will develop a socio-legal and doctrinal approach, with the aim of highlighting:
My future aspirations include cross-discipline publishing, attending and presenting at conferences and developing a successive network of individuals who share in space sustainability goals.
Research Department: FBL
Research Group: AstrobiologyOU
Teaching interests range from:
Journal Articles
Steele SM, Can international law provide a basis for actively removing space debris? The Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference (2020)
Steele SM, Human Spaceflight in 2070: As space agencies are working towards sending humans back to the Moon, what will we be doing in 50 years? Will we have settlers living on the Moon or even on Mars? Will we be there thanks to international endeavours, efforts lead by single governments or by private actors? And how may the discoveries of exoplanets effect and boost human spaceflight to go interstellar?, IAC- 20 9 - D6.2. Emerging Global Space Ventures, INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTICAL CONGRESS (IAC) (2020)
Cheney T, Newman C, Olsson-Francis K, Steele S, Pearson V and Lee S (2020) Planetary Protection in the New Space Era: Science and Governance. Front. Astron. Space Sci. 7:589817. doi: 10.3389/fspas.2020.589817
Engagement
Santander Universities Fund recipient
Presentation to Director of Santander Universities and the Open University Vice-Chancellor to discuss the Santander Fund
Blogs
AstrobiologyOU Research Group Blog Post - The actions of backwards contamination in light of COVID-19
Presentations
The Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference 2020
The Internationa Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2020
The British International Studies Association (BISA) 2020
Visiting Researcher - https://www.spacefaringcivilization.space/
Further reading of related and passionate issues follow the following links:
https://www.open.ac.uk/research-groups/astrobiology/research
Planetary Protection in the New Space Era: Science and Governance (2020-11-13)
Cheney, Thomas; Newman, Christopher; Olsson-Francis, Karen; Steele, Scott; Pearson, Victoria and Lee, Simon
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 7, Article 589817