Michael Byers

Michael Byers is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia's Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts. He has held fellowships at Oxford University, Duke University, and the University of St Andrews, among others. His research focuses on international law, outer space governance, Arctic sovereignty, climate change, and security policy.

Byers has authored influential books such as Who Owns Outer Space? (2023) and International Law and the Arctic (2013), both winners of the Donner Prize. He co-directs the Outer Space Institute, a global network addressing space-related challenges. His expertise spans legal frameworks for space resource extraction, risks of uncontrolled space debris, and Arctic environmental policy.

Recognition includes the Donner Prize (twice), Fellowships at Oxford and St Andrews, and contributions to policy debates on Canadian military procurement and climate adaptation. His work bridges legal scholarship with practical policy solutions, emphasizing international cooperation in contentious domains.