The Defence Studies Department (DSD) and the Centre for Military Ethics are delighted to welcome two leading experts to discuss the military dimension of outer space. Prof Lonneke Peperkamp (Netherlands Defense Academy) will speak about the ethics of the use of force in space. Dr Shounak Set (DSD) will explore how technology and statecraft drive strategic competition in outer space. The two presentations, followed by Q&A, mark the start of DSD's 2024/2025 Research Seminar Series.

Please note This event will be held live in person at the JSCSC, UK Defence Academy and online via Microsoft Teams

Speaker Bios

Lonneke Peperkamp is professor of military ethics and leadership and head of the department of military management studies at the Netherlands Defense Academy. With a background in law, philosophy, and conflict studies, she currently focuses in her research on military ethics, just war theory, space security, and the ethics of new technologies in warfare. Her latest publications are the co-edited volume Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine War (2024) and ‘Technology and the Civilianization of Warfare’ (Ethics & International Affairs). She is affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Research Hub on Digitalization and Society (iHub, Radboud University Nijmegen) and the Centre for Military Ethics (King's College London).

Shounak Set is a Lecturer in Defence Studies Education at King's College London. He has also been accredited with the Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, UK and been a recipient of the Rising Leaders Fellowship from Aspen Institute. Dr. Set’s background is in Strategic Studies and Foreign Policy Analysis, with particular reference to Outer Space and Nuclear issues. His interdisciplinary research investigating the intersection between strategic technologies, and global geopolitics has been featured in the media (e.g. BBC, DW), driven exchanges with policymakers in Europe, UK, and India and received support in the form of international grants (European Commission, Tokyo Foundation).