Professors Beard and von der Dunk Contribute to Award-Winning Book

21 Oct 2022    

Professor Frans von der Dunk shakes hands with the award presenter at the IAC Awards Banquet.

The book “Legal Aspects of Planetary Defence” edited by Irmgard Marboe, recently received the 2022 IAA Social Science Book Award. The annual award recognizes excellence in the creation of a social science publication made by an International Academy of Astronautics member. Professors Jack Beard and Frans von der Dunk both made contributions to the book, which covers legal and policy aspects of “planetary defence” activities aimed at the mitigation of impact threats for objects in Earth’s orbit. 

Professor von der Dunk contributed two chapters to the book. One covered the enhancement of public awareness of planetary defence and international cooperative efforts, while another chapter covered the legal aspects of threat response for objects in Near-Earth Orbits. Professor Beard contributed a chapter on nuclear non-proliferation as it relates to planetary defence.

The award was presented at the IAC award ceremony in September 2022 in Paris.

Professor von der Dunk gives remarks during the presentation of the IAA Social Sciences Book Award

Pictures by Dr. Dorin Prunariu, published with kind permission.