Tuana Yazici - "A proposal for the Usage of Reconnaissance Satellites to Monitor International Human and Wildlife Trafficking Hotspots" via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87542955313
Tuana Yazici is a United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Space4Women mentee, an International Institute of Space Law (IISL) member, and a student helicopter pilot.
Graduating a year early from the University of Miami, Yazici obtained a B.A. in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, Economics), and later finished a two-year Master of Arts in International Administration with a concentration in International Space Law at the University of Miami also a year early. During her master’s, Yazici worked with the Space Foundation as the Space Law and Political Affairs intern. Following her master’s, Yazici plans to attend law school in the fall of 2022.
Opening her first international art exhibition at the Galeri Artist in Istanbul at the age of 4, Yazici displayed her artwork portraying animal welfare. With her first publication at the age of 7, Yazici wrote and illustrated 4 children’s books on the topics of human rights and animal welfare, which were published. She has donated all profits from her books to various animal charities.
Yazici has two recent publications in the field of space law and policy. Her recent research, “A Proposal for the Usage of Reconnaissance Satellites to Monitor International Human and Wildlife Trafficking Hotspots” was published in the journal Acta Astronautica on March 4, 2022. As a speaker during the 37th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs (April 4-7, 2022), Yazici gave a presentation on her journal publication. Her other research, “Analysis: Legal Barriers Complicate Future in Orbit” was published in Q4 of The Space Report on January 18, 2022. The article discusses the Artemis Accords, the legality of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, and space debris mitigation, and offers recommendations for the U.S. and other international actors on how to address these issues. Yazici continues to have meetings in Capitol Hill and the White House on both of her publications.
As she proceeds her education in law school, Yazici plans to continue to advocate for an international system where reconnaissance satellites are used to detect human rights and animal welfare violations, keeping countries accountable.