In the face of great challenges we want to think differently about international politics. With researchers from around the globe, in discussion with politics and society, we are seeking out new ideas and expanding perspectives.
Fellow
Programme
The Academy is both a site of research and an exchange for ideas. The Academy offers its Fellows ideal working conditions in which to pursue their own questions. In conversation with scholars and scientists from other disciplines, with politicians and civil society, new perspectives arise.
Bonn.
The Federal City.
The capital city of the old Federal Republic has long been an important European research location. Bonn is home to outstanding scientific institutes, international organisations, UN institutions and federal ministries. Bonn is a small-scale, close-knit city and offers an ideal environment for developing the ideas of the future.
Events
From scholarly conferences, lectures and panel discussions through to conversations held within a small circle – the Academy conducts different events series. Debate on our chosen themes is held with a wide range of figures. We invite academic researchers, politicians, business, the media and the interested public to join us.
Academy
What’s New
ImpulseOuter Space Governance: Space Security, Regulation and Sustainability
Outer space technologies, including rockets, satellites, and their supporting infrastructure, are vital to modern societies. They enable critical services such as telecommunications, internet access, mapping, geolocation, environmental monitoring, and weather forecasting. These systems also play essential roles in national defense, supporting intelligence collection, nuclear early warning, and precision weapon targeting. As such, they are key to military, environmental, and human security, and represent a pillar of economic power.
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ImpulseThe Wild West in Space: The Urgent Need for Rules Beyond Earth
This article, written by Martin Wein, is based on our side event at the World Space Forum titled “Responsibility in Space for Sustainability on Earth.” At the event, ESA astronaut Gerhard Thiele delivered an insightful keynote on his experiences in space and beyond. Following this, our Fellows and members of the Outer Space Working Group—Chelsea Haramia, Raúl Gónzalez Muñoz, and Adam Bower—shared their research projects at AIA and engaged in discussions on sustainability in space.
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ImpulseExploring the Unknown: Dr. Chelsea Haramia on Planning for Post-Detection Scenarios
At AIA, Dr. Chelsea Haramia’s groundbreaking research focuses on preparing humanity for the profound moment when we might discover extraterrestrial life or technology. In a recent interview, Dr. Haramia shared her insights into post-detection planning, emphasizing the ethical and global challenges of responding to such a discovery. Central to her work is the importance of gauging public attitudes and achieving informed global consent for actions that may follow this monumental event.
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Earth as viewed from Moon surface. The surface of the moon, strewn with small rocks and sand. Flight over Moon craters. Moon surface, Desert, Cliffs, sand. Conception space abstract background. ImpulseExploring the Final Frontier: Space as an Environment and the Challenges Ahead
The vastness of space has always been a source of fascination, but as humanity’s reach expands into the cosmos, so do the challenges we face. Associate Fellow Günes Ünüvar’s work sheds light on pressing questions: Is there a risk of being hit by falling satellites? What threats does space debris pose? And why should we consider space as an “environment”?
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Fellow ColloquiumImplementation of the European Union Space Defence & Security Strategy: Key Challenges and Enablers
The European Union reflects its aspiration to achieve sovereignty in critical areas of policy and technology, with space emerging as a central domain. As geopolitical tensions rise and global competition for technological dominance intensifies, European space initiatives—such as Galileo, Copernicus, and the future IRIS2—demonstrate the strategic significance of space policy for fostering technological innovation, enhancing resilience, and reinforcing European integration.
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ImpulseAcademy of International Affairs NRW: Fostering Global Dialogue in Bonn
The article based on an interview with our director, Mayssoun Zein Al Din, conducted by journalist Martin Wein, explores the role of the Academy of International Affairs NRW in Bonn as a new and significant player among global think tanks.
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Allgemein‘Fellow Speed dating’ with students of the MSIS program (University of Bonn)
The AIA NRW and its Fellows were delighted to welcome 25 Master’s students from the second year of the new “Strategy and International Security” (MSIS) program at the University of Bonn, which is led by our Academic Board member Ulrich Schlie.
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Das Team der AIA NRW mit Fellow Mariia Levchenko beim UN-Tag in Bonn. AllgemeinAIA at the UN-Day in Bonn
This year, the AIA was represented for the first time with a stand at the city of Bonn’s annual United Nations Day. Many organizations, associations and institutions from international Bonn presented themselves here. We would like to thank the City of Bonn for the excellent organization, our partner institutions and all interested citizens with whom we were able to talk about our work.
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Coffee & CakeInternational space law and the question of legally binding vs. soft law instruments
On October 10, the Academy was visited by Dr Ranjana Kaul, Partner at Dua Associates, Law Offices, New Delhi, India and Dr Nayoung Youn, Senior Researcher in the Policy Team of the Korean Aerospace Research Institute. These two Asian legal experts on the subject of space policy and the rule of law are currently on a delegation trip to Europe organized by Olivia Schlouch and Stefan Samse from Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
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Serap Güter in der AIA am 01.10.24 © Volker Lannert Originalfilename: P3-5A3A0770 FellowsExchange with Serap Güler, MP
On Thursday, October 1, Serap Güler, member of the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag, visited the Academy.
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