October 18th 2023.
Howard University Professor AJ Link is passionate about advocating for Black students' involvement in his lesser-known field of expertise: Space Law. As a way to honor World Space Week, which takes place each year in early October, Link shared how he is preparing the next generation of Black Space Law professionals to ensure that diversity is present in this field.
Space law is a legal framework that governs activities related to outer space. It includes international agreements, treaties, conventions, United Nations General Assembly resolutions, and regulations established by international organizations. Link was first introduced to this field as a first-year student at George Washington Law School and subsequently received his LLM, or Master of Laws, in space law from the University of Mississippi - one of the two law schools that offer the unique degree.
In an essay for Howard’s The Dig, Link wrote “With the lack of options and access to space law as a field of study for J.D. students, and legal professionals seeking an LLM, it’s no wonder that the space law community is lacking anything close to adequate representation of Black folks in the profession.” After completing his education and noticing he was one of few Black people to do so, Link returned to D.C. to teach the first-ever course on space law at Howard University Law School.
Link is now dedicating his efforts to make sure Black people are given access to this realm of space outside of STEM-subjects such as astrophysics or aerospace engineering. He was particularly aware of this gap during events for Black Space Week, where the number of Black space lawyers was quite low. As new groups, such as BlackInAstro, are advocating for diversity in the stars, they will seek to provide opportunity and spark passion for this evolving field that will become more prominent as space activity advances.
Through his addition to the HUSL’s faculty, Link is aiming to make the HBCU a “premier space law institution” that champions the next generation of Black space law experts. In partnership with the PNC Foundation, Morgan State and Howard University have also come together to create a Black Business Hub, which will be essential in providing students with the necessary resources to pursue this field.
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