Cultural Considerations WG Webinar – Afro-Futurism and Space Law

It is not only Western culture that sees space research as an opportunity for knowledge, improvement of living conditions and satisfaction of the spirit of adventure that has characterized the progress of humanity over the millennia. Even cultures not currently directly involved in the development of space projects have always looked towards the sky and have elaborated theories and legends that have served to keep people’s interest in the stars alive. With this webinar we intend to investigate the special relationship that African artistic creativity has with space and how contemporary artists use their traditions to collaborate on a more just and shared space research.

Free registration:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P6lnl0eiRp2IT8uko2cTHw

Agenda

1. Remo Rapetti: Introduction
2. Jacque Njeri, African Futurist, Artivist & Graphic Designer: Afro-Futurism in Space Culture.
3. Dr Saskia Vermeylen, Reader in Law at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland: Cultural storytelling for the protection of outer space.
4. Lisa Pettibone: Comments and questions.

Jacque Njeri is a multifaceted artist and designer currently based in Nairobi, Kenya, with a Bachelor of Arts in Design from the University of Nairobi. Her work blends afro-futurism, culture, and advocacy, addressing themes of governance, youth, inequality, and gender justice through a futuristic lens. Globally recognized, her art has been featured by CNN and BBC and exhibited at events like the Other Futures Festival in Amsterdam and the Kikk Festival in Belgium. Jacque’s practice challenges societal norms and inspires creativity as a tool for meaningful change.

Dr Saskia Vermeylen, a Reader in Law at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, is a phenomenologist and legal anthropologist whose interdisciplinary research explores the interplay of law, space, and cultural expression, offering a unique perspective on space governance informed by arts theory and practice. She curated the exhibition “EXTR-Activism”, which highlights artistic critiques of the commercial space race and its focus on mineral extractivism. Dr Vermeylen’s research challenges traditional understandings of space law by elevating artistic practices and theories as critical contributions to jurisprudence. Through her numerous publications, she addresses key gaps in space governance and critiques the dominance of Eurocentric perspectives within the field.