The UK's plans for its national space strategy have been put under scrutiny by a leading professor who warns that an overemphasis on economic growth and national security risks overlooking crucial ethical considerations. Professor Abbie Garrington, from Durham University, believes that the arts and humanities must play a greater role in shaping the nation's approach to space exploration.
Professor Garrington's call for a more integrated approach follows concerns raised by physicist Laura Grego about the 'appropriation' of space by private entities. Grego also highlighted the need for humanity to address its stewardship of Earth and the significance of human culture in an era of spacefaring. These issues, Professor Garrington argues, cannot be tackled solely through scientific and technological advancements.
With a focus on technological leaps in exploration and surveillance, the forthcoming national space strategy has been criticised by Professor Garrington for being incomplete. She suggests that the 'second space race' demands new collaborative structures, theories of jurisdiction, and laws, as well as fresh philosophies concerning human culture and interplanetary environmental responsibility.
Professor Garrington points to institutions like Durham University's Space Research Centre and the Leverhulme Centre for Humanity and Space at the University of Leicester as potential models for integrated research. She also draws a connection between the need for humanities in space discourse and recent layoffs in arts and humanities departments, citing Exeter and Edinburgh universities.
The professor believes that these cuts create 'cold spots' across the UK, diminishing access to enriching subjects and undermining the nation's capacity to engage responsibly with its space ambitions. The British Academy has previously voiced concerns about academic cuts, highlighting their impact on students. Professor Garrington extends this concern, suggesting that the reduction in arts and humanities provision represents a national diminishment of subjects vital for navigating the complex future of space.