Ram Jakhu

Full Professor

3690 Peel Street 
Room 200
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H3A 1W9

514-398-1382 [Office]
ram.jakhu [at] mcgill.ca (Email)

Ram Jakhu


Websites: McGill Institute of Air and Space Law; MILAMOS
Download: PDF icon Curriculum vitae [.pdf] (updated September 2022)
Media contributions: "Space exploration should aim for peace, collaboration and co-operation, not war and competition." The Conversation, 11 October 2021.


Biography

Professor Jakhu teaches and conducts research in international space law, law of space applications, law of space commercialization, government regulation of space activities, law of telecommunications and Canadian communications law, and public international law.

He recently edited an international study on Global Space Governance in which about 80 experts from around the world were involved.

He is currently directing an innovative international research project related to the drafting of a Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space (MILAMOS).

Professor Ram Jakhu (1) served as a Member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, 1992-1995, where he adjudicated several cases related to human rights; (2) was a Member of the Advisory Group of Legal Experts on Optional Rules for Arbitration of Disputes Relating to Outer Space (of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague, the Netherlands) that developed Optional Rules for Arbitration of Disputes Relating to Outer Space Activities, 6 December 2011; (3) made presentations to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in 2011 and 2012; (4) was the Chair of the United Nations Working Group which updated, expanded and finalized the curriculum for a course on Satellite Communications to be taught at the UN Centres for Space Science and Technology in 2008-2009; and (5) was a member of the Global Agenda Council on Space of the World Economic Forum, where he has been appointed for four terms from 2010 to 2018.

He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Annals of Air and Space Law; a member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of the Space Law; a member of the Advisory Board of Institute for Competitiveness; and a member of the Executive Committee of the Legal and Regulatory Committee of International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety.

In 2007, Professor Ram Jakhu received a “Distinguished Service Award” from the International Institute of Space Law for significant contribution to the development of space law. In 2011, the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) awarded him its Social Sciences Book Award for his book National Regulation of Space Activities (Springer, 2010). In 2016, during its 8th annual conference, the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) presented Professor Jakhu with its Leonardo da Vinci Life-long Achievements Award.

Professor Jakhu is happy to supervise graduate and postdoctoral students working on topics related to space law, law of space applications, national regulation of space activities, space security and safety, space commercialisation, telecommunications, and public international law.

Education

  • BA, Panjab University
  • LLB, Panjab University
  • LLM, Panjab University, International Law
  • LLM, McGill University, Air & Space Law
  • DCL, McGill University, Law of Outer Space & Telecommunications

Employment

  • Full Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University, 2021
  • Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University, 1998-2021
  • Director, Institute and Center for Research in Air and Space Law, McGill University, 2016-2017
  • Associate Director, Center for Research in Air and Space Law, McGill University, 2006-2016
  • Director, Centre for the Study of Regulated Industries, McGill University, 1999-2004
  • First Director of the MSS Program, Head of School of Social Sciences and Senior Faculty Member, International Space University, Strasbourg, France, 1995-1998

Areas of Interest

General space law, law of space applications, space security and safety, space commercialisation, telecommunications, public international law, and Canadian communications law.

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