Interdisciplinary Thesis Labs and the International Institute of Air & Space Law (IIASL)
Students greatly benefit from an interdisciplinary learning environment that makes connections with various stakeholders and tackles real-world challenges. This environment allows them to produce innovative and impactful results. As part of their studies, students from the International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL) participate in two Interdisciplinary Thesis Labs.
Circulaerospace
As part of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities (LDE) Centre for Sustainability, an interdisciplinary research centre, students are tasked with orienting their individual master's thesis around a real-world challenge through the Interdisciplinary Thesis Lab. This is a collaborative approach, whereby students from different fields from the three LDE universities come together to produce a common interdisciplinary result that has real impact. The team of students works on a sustainability challenge set by an external organisation (a company or governmental organisation). A key part of this involves meeting with professional and academic experts, participating in workshops and lectures and attending excursions. This allows students to learn from their fellow students, consider ideas and exchange methodologies. In addition to writing their thesis, students produce an interdisciplinary result document.
This year, Marcelo Talia, a student on the Advanced LL.M. in Air and Space Law programme, successfully completed the Circulaerospace Thesis Lab, which is a collaborative effort with Airbus Netherlands and Airbus Central Research & Technology. This Thesis Lab focused on all aspects of future technologies, digital innovations and business models for a decarbonised aviation scenario. The entire product lifecycle was considered. In the Thesis Lab, students explored how bio-based materials can be used in aircraft components and the potential impact of those materials for the supply chain, both in terms of production and end of use. Students also investigated how digital technologies can contribute to the development of new materials, production techniques and supply chain monitoring. An interdisciplinary result document was drawn up that summarises the interdisciplinary result of the lab, i.e. the main findings of the students’ research and links between the findings:
Next year's industry partners will be NLR, AETHOS and Collins Aerospace. The International Institute of Air & Space Law looks forward to continuing this collaboration.
Space
As part of the LDE Space for Science and Society collaboration, students from Leiden University and the Erasmus School of Business and Management participated in the LDE Space Thesis Lab that explored the use of satellite data as evidence in international humanitarian law and human rights. As part of the Thesis Lab, students dedicate their thesis and course assignments to exploring a topic from the perspective of their own discipline.
Solène Flambeaux, Sindhu Shankar and Aleksandra Spyra, students on the Advanced LL.M. programme in Air and Space Law, participated in the Thesis Lab, and focused on issues pertaining to international, regional, and national space law in their theses. In particular, they address the responsibility of States and international organisations for the use of data from their satellites, the use of satellite data in the context of the peaceful use of outer space and methods for optimising the use of satellite data as evidence. Throughout the Thesis Lab, students attended lectures given by academics from the LDE Universities and engaged with a number of experts from the industry and international organisations. They also visited the International Criminal Court, the EU Agency for the Space Programme and the European Space Agency, allowing them to gain a practical insight into the field.
A whitepaper summarising the main outcomes of the Thesis Lab is currently being drawn up and will be shared in due course. The preliminary findings were presented during a seminar held at Leiden University on 21 June and offered an glimpse into the significant research being conducted by students.