2026 Utrecht Earth-Space Academy Training School on Transformative Governance for Earth-Space Sustainability, Utrecht University (20 Funded Academy Fellowships)

The 2026 Utrecht Earth-Space Academy is a training school on 'Transformative Governance for Earth-Space Sustainability' held from 28 to 30 October 2026 at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.

It is organised by the ERC PlanetStewards Project, co-organised with the Earth-Space Sustainability (ESS) Network and EU COST Action FOGOS. PlanetStewards is a research programme on planetary stewardship in view of Earth-Space sustainability, funded by the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement no. 101117483). The course director is Dr. Xiao-Shan Yap of Utrecht University.

Earth-Space sustainability has emerged as a pressing issue of the 21st century, with increasing amounts of space debris falling through Earth's atmosphere, giant mirrors to provide artificial 'sunlight on demand', severe loss of pristine skies, and rocket bodies crash-landing on the lunar surface. Earth and outer space have become intertwined environmentally, politically and philosophically, leading to an emerging 'Earth-Space systems' paradigm that requires rethinking planetary governance for environmentally sustainable and just futures on Earth and in space.

Central to this are the mobilisation of interdisciplinary knowledge to address a range of contemporary issues spanning the past and the future: from the inter-generational loss of cosmological imaginaries, to the protection of Earth's common skies, to the ethical obligations owed to and the future integrity of other celestial worlds.

The Academy aims to train next-generation scholars and researchers in new conceptual and methodological approaches to the emerging issues of extraplanetary governance. Drawing on the history of astronomy, astrobiology, anthropology, space law, environmental policy and governance, and international relations, Academy Fellows engage with the Earth-Space systems concept from a pluralistic, interdisciplinary perspective. By the end of the training, Fellows will be familiar with the concept and meanings of Earth-Space sustainability and with cutting-edge research in the field, and will understand the importance of transformative change in science and policy for future Earth-Space sustainability.

PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers are welcome to apply. The Academy will select a cohort of 20 early-career researchers as Academy Fellows.

The call places no restriction on nationality, country of residence or home institution, so researchers based in India may apply on the same terms as anyone else. The scholarship is expressly framed as covering long-distance travel, which is the situation of an applicant travelling from India.

Because the programme spans law, astronomy, astrobiology, anthropology, ethics, environmental policy and international relations, legal researchers working on space law, environmental law, international law or governance are squarely within the intended audience.

Selected Academy Fellows will be awarded a scholarship, through a reimbursement procedure after the event, to cover long-distance travel and accommodation to attend the training.

Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis until 30 September 2026, or as soon as all scholarship spots are filled, whichever comes first. Awards are made on the basis of the quality and excellence of the submitted application letter and CV. Applicants are therefore advised to apply well before the closing date rather than at the deadline.

The call states no participation or tuition fee for the training school.

Utrecht University faculty members:

• Dr. Xiao-Shan Yap (Course Director), Utrecht University — Earth-Space Governance
• Prof. Dr. Inge Loes ten Kate, Utrecht University — Astrobiology and Planetary Protection
• Dr. Frank van Laerhoven, Utrecht University — Environmental and Commons Governance
• Dr. Jeroen Oomen, Utrecht University — Techniques of Futuring for Sustainability Policy
• Dr. Aditi Saraf, Utrecht University — Anthropological Approaches to Indigenous Cosmologies

Invited faculty members:

• Dr. John Barentine, Dark Sky Consulting — Science-Policy Interface on Dark and Quiet Skies
• Dr. Katharina Glaab, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) — Earth-Space Geopolitics and International Relations
• Dr. Chelsea Haramia, University of Bonn — Space Ethics and Environmentalism
• Dr. Christopher Johnson, International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL), Leiden University — Fundamentals in Space Law and Lunar Governance
• Dr. Stamatina Mastorakou, University of Pittsburgh — History of Astronomy and Cosmological Imaginaries
• Dr. Michael Picard, University of Edinburgh — Environmental Law in Earth-Space Systems
• Prof. Eduardo Unda-Sanzana, University of Antofagasta — Observational Astronomy and Governing Dark and Quiet Skies from the Atacama Desert

The lecture series will be complemented with interactive sessions and creative dialogues to:

• Approach the concept of Earth-Space systems from diverse disciplines and knowledge traditions
• Rethink human-nature relations in view of the Earth-Space paradigm
• Explore scientific, cultural, environmental and other values of Earth-Space systems
• Conceptualise transformative governance from a pluralistic and interdisciplinary perspective
• Apply concepts and methods to a range of case studies, including dark-sky governance and lunar governance
• Discuss the role of science-policy interfaces in transformative change towards Earth-Space sustainability
• Discuss your own work in terms of concepts, methodology and potential impact, and receive feedback from the faculty members

Applications are made through the official online application form on the PlanetStewards website. The live form requires:

• First name and last name
• Role (for example, PhD candidate or post-doctoral researcher)
• Institutional affiliation
• Email address
• Application letter — stating your research interest, your motivation, and how participation in this Academy may support your research journey
• CV upload — PDF or Word document, maximum 5 MB

Selection is based on the quality and excellence of the submitted application letter and CV. Since scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis and close as soon as all 20 spots are filled, applying early materially improves the chance of securing a funded place.

Academy dates: 28 to 30 October 2026 (three days, in person).

Application and scholarship deadline: 30 September 2026, or earlier if all scholarship spots are filled.

Venue: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Vening Meinesz Building A, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Indian applicants should note that the Netherlands is a Schengen state and should factor short-stay visa processing time into their planning once a place is confirmed.