IIST and MGCL invite original abstracts for a national conference on space governance, sustainability and international cooperation.
About the Organizers
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, is an autonomous institute under the Department of Space, Government of India, dedicated to education and research in space science and technology.
Mar Gregorios College of Law (MGCL), Thiruvananthapuram, is affiliated with the University of Kerala and approved by the Bar Council of India. The institution offers legal education with an emphasis on academic excellence and professional development.
About the Opportunity
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, in association with Mar Gregorios College of Law (MGCL), Thiruvananthapuram, is organising a National Conference on Legal Dimensions of Space Governance, Sustainability, and International Cooperation.
The conference seeks to provide an interdisciplinary academic platform for academicians, researchers, legal practitioners, policymakers, scientists and students to discuss evolving legal dimensions of space governance, sustainability and international cooperation.
The conference will address developments and emerging challenges in international space law and policy, space commercialisation, national legislation, satellite communication, space debris and environmental governance, planetary defence, artificial intelligence, space traffic management and emerging technologies.
The conference will include plenary sessions, keynote sessions and paper presentations. Accepted abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings.
Call for Papers
Original and unpublished abstracts are invited from eligible participants.
The broad themes include:
- Foundations and Evolution of International Space Law and Policies.
- The International Space Station and Beyond.
- Space Commercialization and National Legislation.
- Remote Sensing, Satellite Communication, and Global Navigation.
- Planetary Defense, Anti-weaponization and Annihilation, Space Debris and Environmental Governance.
- New Frontiers: AI, Space Traffic Management, and Emerging Technologies.
Abstracts must be between 300 and 400 words and should include proper institutional affiliations. Submissions are to be made through the official conference website.
Eligibility Criteria
The conference is open to:
- Academicians.
- Researchers.
- Legal practitioners.
- Policymakers.
- Scientists.
- Students interested in the legal, policy and interdisciplinary dimensions of space governance, sustainability and international cooperation.
Date
The conference will be held on December 18–19, 2026.
Location
The conference will be conducted at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Registration Fee
- Students: Rs. 1,000.
- Faculty, Scientists, Advocates and Government Delegates: Rs. 3,000.
- Industry Delegates: Rs. 4,500.
The registration fee is inclusive of applicable GST.
Participants are required to register through the official conference website, submit their abstract and complete the payment upon notification of acceptance.
Important Dates
- Abstract Submission: October 15, 2026.
- Acceptance Notification: October 20, 2026.
- Full Paper Submission: November 15, 2026.
- Payment Deadline: November 20, 2026.
- Payment with Penalty: November 30, 2026.
Contact
Email: spaceconferenceiist@gmail.com
Email: iistspaceseminar@mgcl.ac.in
Student Coordinators:
- Devi Nandana V S: +91 97782 42072
- Archa M P: +91 82812 94916
- Nimisha S. Nair: +91 88485 98608
- Adnan Afsal: +91 97782 05606
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Application Procedure
Interested participants may submit their abstracts and register through the official conference website.
The deadline for abstract submission is October 15, 2026.
