Participants Perspective of the 2017 ECSL Summercourse - Alexander, Aniela and Katharina

Alexander Olsson Vevaud, University of Bergen – Norway

Arriving at the hotel in Rome I didn’t know what to expect, but I was already feeling quite hopeful and upbeat. Being Norwegian the beautiful weather and historical significance of Rome was bound to make an impression. Luckily the beautiful surroundings were not the only inspiring factors. After a short introduction it became clear that both the organisers and the participants of this year’s course would provide a great atmosphere for both learning and social engagement.

Being a student I was provided a room with a roommate. Truth be told, sharing a room with a complete stranger for two weeks was something I’d been a bit sceptical towards. A scepticism I now gladly admit to be utter and completely unfounded. In fact, sharing the experience with someone else was not only OK, but it greatly added to it as a whole.

Having limited knowledge of international space law and policy I carried some anxiety towards starting the course, that was however completely unnecessary. The organising team from the ECSL had put together a schedule that quite quickly and efficiently gave me the knowledge base needed to feel confident in my own ability. As the course progressed it became quite clear that this is not the first time such an event has been organised. The level of access we were granted on our fieldtrips, the quality of the speakers we were presented with and the overall professionalism of the course resulted in a great experience.

The contrast between the thousands of years of human history that can be observed in Rome and our quite recent space faring capabilities created some lasting and powerful impressions. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to attend this course and would recommend it to anyone looking to enter the field of space law. The ECSL provided me with professional input that will serve me well in the future and provided the opportunity to create strong personal bonds with other young professionals.

Aniela Barug, University of Leiden – Netherlands

My name is Aniela Barug, I’m 23 years old and I’m studying law at Leiden University, the Netherlands.

My interest in space law started with my thesis. The inspiration and reasoning behind my decision to write my thesis on this theme was the fact that the awareness of the value of space exploration and space applications is increasing and that non-governmental entities are becoming involved in this area.

When I heard about this Course, I was immediately excited and decided to apply. The main objective of the Summer Course was to stimulate the participants’ interest in this particular field of law and policy, and to provide a basic, solid knowledge upon which to build or enhance a professional career or carry out further academic research.

During these two weeks we visited several locations that you normally will not visit, from an industrial site to an earth observation centre. We also had different interesting lectures concerning public international law and space law. At the end of the two weeks we had to work on a group project and presentation. This was a nice way to practice the information we received during the lectures and apply this to a specific case.

It was genuinely an inspirational experience that no one should miss. I had the opportunity to be involved in a unique educational environment and to meet wonderful people with so many nationalities. The course was very well organised and we’ve learned a lot about the space law field. Everything was so much fun!

Katharina Zollner, Karl Franzen’s University of Graz – Austria

My name is Katharina and I'm a student of Karl Franzen's University of Graz. My legal studies are focussed on international law. In the last semester I completed the compulsory "Space Law and Policy" at my university.  I was so interested in the subject that I ended up working with the team of the Competence Center for Space Law and Policy at Karl Franzen's University. For the team and me it was clear that I had to participate in the ECSL Summer Course.

I can now say that it was a wonderful experience and enrichment. I learned a lot from the different lectures, held at one of the oldest and most beautiful university in Europe, the University of La Sapienza in Rome. All the facilities we have visited have brought me closer to the interplay between technology and law, and gave me a great insigth into the space sector. Excursions to the various facilities such as Thales Alenia, ESA Esrin, Unidroit, ASI and Telespazio were the most interesting for me and strengthened my interest in space law.

I found it very good that the course was divided into lectures at the university and excursions. So it was never boring. In addition, I have met many new people from different countries and have also gained experience and knowledge about their countries.

It can be difficult to be accpeted to this course, because many students from all over Europe have the opportunity to aply if they fulfill the prerequisites. If you are allowed to participate, you can be very honored. That is why I believe that the course can have a positive effect on my future when I mention it in my CV. It is particularly positive in the sphere of space law, since it was an intensive course focusing on this topic. I can recommend the course in any case.

If you wish to participate in the 2018 ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy, the details and application proccess will be announced in the late spring of 2018. For the announcement you can check in on the ECSL website or follow the ECSL on LinkedIn.
The opinions expressed in this article are that of the subject(s) interviewed, and not the ECSL or ESA. For any questions regarding this article or the ECSL Summer Course you can contact - Mari Eldholm. mari.amanda.eldholm@esa.int