Dr Jill Stuart is an award winning public speaker, lecturer and academic. She specialises in the politics, ethics and law of outer space exploration and exploitation. She is faculty in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She received the British Science Association’s Margaret Mead Award Lecture in recognition of her ability to communicate her research to the wider public (2015). Dr Stuart is endorsed by the UK Home Office as a world leading expert in her field. She is a respected researcher, presence in the global media, and public speaker.
Areas of expertise
- Outer space law
- Politics of space exploration
- Space commercialisation
- Space debris and space traffic management
- Geopolitics of space activity
- Militarisation and weapons in space
- Resource mining in space
- Ethics of colonisation
- Search for extraterrestrial intelligence
Selected media and publications
Jill’s writing and commentary has featured in the Financial Times, Chatham House’s The World Today, The Conversation and the New York Times. Her TV and radio appearances include the BBC, NPR, Times Radio, France24, Business Insider and Sky News. Podcast interviews include A Question of Science with Brian Cox, Zero Pressure with Helen Sharman and LSE IQ. She speaks widely on who owns space, how we regulate it and why it matters for life on Earth.
Highlights
- Editorial Board, journal Space Policy (Editor in Chief 2013–2017).
- British Science Association Margaret Mead Award Lecture winner, 2015. British Science Association
- Board of Directors to METI International on the search for and messaging to extraterrestrial intelligence. METI International
- Chair of the Board of Trustees, Luton All Women Centre
- UK Home Office endorsement as an Exceptional Talent Migrant, recognising leadership in her field.
- LSE Teaching Excellence Award, 2007
Research
Jill’s research looks at how we govern outer space in practice. She studies the history and evolution of space law, how states and companies behave in orbit, the ethics of expanding into space, and how we handle emerging risks such as debris, cyber security and resource extraction. A current focus is the balance between commercial innovation and responsible stewardship of shared orbital environments.
Academic Qualifications
- PhD International Relations, London School of Economics, 2009
Thesis: Exploring the Relationship Between Outer Space and World Politics: Regime Theory and English School Perspectives - MSc International Relations (Research), London School of Economics, 2002
- International Mediation training, IIMCR, The Hague, 2002
- BS Political Science, University of Portland, 2001
Teaching and supervision
At LSE Jill supervises MSc dissertations, and the PPE capstone courses. She also examines and designs courses for the University of London’s international programmes.
Speaking, media and consulting
Jill is available for keynotes, panel discussions, expert commentary and advisory work on space policy and law. For bookings and media enquiries, please contact her agent Diana Boulter at DBA Speakers.
Personal background
Jill was born in Oregon in the US. She moved to the UK in 2001 to study at the London School of Economics. She has since stayed at the LSE as faculty. She lives near to London, with her husband and many pets.