Ian Crawford is Professor of Planetary Science and Astrobiology at Birkbeck.
Ian’s main research interests are in the fields of astronomy, planetary science, and the search for life in the universe. He is also interested in international cooperation in space exploration, especially the following aspects:
- The extent to which international coordination can facilitate space exploration, for example under the auspices of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), to which he has acted as a scientific adviser;
- The need to avoid conflict in space, especially with regards to the management of space resources once it becomes technically possible to make use of these. Ian is a member of The Hague Space Resources Governance Working Group which is trying to define an international regime for the governance of such resources.
- The extent to which international cooperation in space can stimulate or strengthen international cooperation in other fields. Some of his ideas along these lines are set out in an article published by the World Government Research Network in 2017.