Michael Byers 🇨🇦
@michael-byers.bsky.social
Co-director, Outer Space Institute
Chair, Salt Spring Forum
UBC Professor
Author, citizen, troublemaker
He/him
Chair, Salt Spring Forum
UBC Professor
Author, citizen, troublemaker
He/him
Salt Spring Island, Canada, October 21, 2025
October 21, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Salt Spring Island, Canada, October 21, 2025
Le Collège de France, where I'm speaking at a conference on property rights (or not!) in Outer Space.
September 25, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Le Collège de France, where I'm speaking at a conference on property rights (or not!) in Outer Space.
My commute comes with a view.
September 16, 2025 at 12:16 PM
My commute comes with a view.
I'm flying home after a wonderful conference with the @esil-sedi.bsky.social (European Society of International Law).
With many thanks to hosts @heikekrieger.bsky.social and Helmut Aust and their amazing team at the Free University of Berlin.
With many thanks to hosts @heikekrieger.bsky.social and Helmut Aust and their amazing team at the Free University of Berlin.
September 13, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I'm flying home after a wonderful conference with the @esil-sedi.bsky.social (European Society of International Law).
With many thanks to hosts @heikekrieger.bsky.social and Helmut Aust and their amazing team at the Free University of Berlin.
With many thanks to hosts @heikekrieger.bsky.social and Helmut Aust and their amazing team at the Free University of Berlin.
Zip lines stretch on hot days.
This results in more people being stranded halfway, leading to fear, panic and, ultimately, an embarrassing rescue.
So, you ask, how do I know?
This results in more people being stranded halfway, leading to fear, panic and, ultimately, an embarrassing rescue.
So, you ask, how do I know?
August 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Zip lines stretch on hot days.
This results in more people being stranded halfway, leading to fear, panic and, ultimately, an embarrassing rescue.
So, you ask, how do I know?
This results in more people being stranded halfway, leading to fear, panic and, ultimately, an embarrassing rescue.
So, you ask, how do I know?
Wieder in Deutschland!
July 14, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Wieder in Deutschland!
Channelling my inner Prussian during a workshop at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
July 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Channelling my inner Prussian during a workshop at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Beatriz Soeiro, the Outer Space Institute's Research Coordinator, read a statement - on the need for a broad interpretation of the duty to assist persons in distress - at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space this week.
Meanwhile, I did my best to look serious.
Meanwhile, I did my best to look serious.
July 2, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Beatriz Soeiro, the Outer Space Institute's Research Coordinator, read a statement - on the need for a broad interpretation of the duty to assist persons in distress - at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space this week.
Meanwhile, I did my best to look serious.
Meanwhile, I did my best to look serious.
RIP Marc Garneau, 1949-2025.
First Canadian in space. A gentleman and a friend.
First Canadian in space. A gentleman and a friend.
June 5, 2025 at 12:14 AM
RIP Marc Garneau, 1949-2025.
First Canadian in space. A gentleman and a friend.
First Canadian in space. A gentleman and a friend.
Golden Dome. Who's going to tell Donald Trump?
June 1, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Golden Dome. Who's going to tell Donald Trump?
It has come to this.
Because of Donald Trump, I'm about to cheer for the Toronto Maples Leafs (against the Florida Panthers).
Because of Donald Trump, I'm about to cheer for the Toronto Maples Leafs (against the Florida Panthers).
May 18, 2025 at 11:28 PM
It has come to this.
Because of Donald Trump, I'm about to cheer for the Toronto Maples Leafs (against the Florida Panthers).
Because of Donald Trump, I'm about to cheer for the Toronto Maples Leafs (against the Florida Panthers).
Morten Høglund is the 2025 High North Hero!
Morten has expertly chaired the Arctic Council during the past two, extremely challenging years.
Morten has expertly chaired the Arctic Council during the past two, extremely challenging years.
March 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Morten Høglund is the 2025 High North Hero!
Morten has expertly chaired the Arctic Council during the past two, extremely challenging years.
Morten has expertly chaired the Arctic Council during the past two, extremely challenging years.
I'm in Bodø, Norway, for a great Arctic conference -- and a panel on Space!
March 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I'm in Bodø, Norway, for a great Arctic conference -- and a panel on Space!
I'm in Hamburg with the Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internationales Recht (German Society of International Law), which has kindly named me as a member.
March 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I'm in Hamburg with the Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internationales Recht (German Society of International Law), which has kindly named me as a member.
“Limits on Satellites?”
That was the title of my talk at the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva today.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Earth-Space system, and how to protect it, with the amazing engineers who work on the front-line of satellite regulation.
That was the title of my talk at the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva today.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Earth-Space system, and how to protect it, with the amazing engineers who work on the front-line of satellite regulation.
March 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
“Limits on Satellites?”
That was the title of my talk at the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva today.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Earth-Space system, and how to protect it, with the amazing engineers who work on the front-line of satellite regulation.
That was the title of my talk at the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva today.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Earth-Space system, and how to protect it, with the amazing engineers who work on the front-line of satellite regulation.
Enjoying shaved ice and durian with my former PhD student Hema Nadarajah in her hometown of Singapore.
We're here for a workshop on lunar coordination, hosted by the Outer Space Institute in partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
We're here for a workshop on lunar coordination, hosted by the Outer Space Institute in partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
February 17, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Enjoying shaved ice and durian with my former PhD student Hema Nadarajah in her hometown of Singapore.
We're here for a workshop on lunar coordination, hosted by the Outer Space Institute in partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
We're here for a workshop on lunar coordination, hosted by the Outer Space Institute in partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
Moonrise over Galiano Island, Canada, earlier this evening.
February 13, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Moonrise over Galiano Island, Canada, earlier this evening.
Ewan Wright, PhD candidate and Junior Fellow of the Outer Space Institute, making a statement at the United Nations today.
The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is meeting in Vienna this week and next.
The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is meeting in Vienna this week and next.
February 7, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Ewan Wright, PhD candidate and Junior Fellow of the Outer Space Institute, making a statement at the United Nations today.
The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is meeting in Vienna this week and next.
The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is meeting in Vienna this week and next.
Canadians are TOUGH. Invade us at your peril.
It's minus 24 Celsius in Lethbridge and this hoser is still wearing shorts.
It's minus 24 Celsius in Lethbridge and this hoser is still wearing shorts.
February 5, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Canadians are TOUGH. Invade us at your peril.
It's minus 24 Celsius in Lethbridge and this hoser is still wearing shorts.
It's minus 24 Celsius in Lethbridge and this hoser is still wearing shorts.
John S. MacDonald Outer Space Lecture with Marc Garneau and Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, an astronaut and a cosmonaut who became leading diplomats.
Moderated by Charlotte Hook, OSI Junior Fellow and PhD student.
Moderated by Charlotte Hook, OSI Junior Fellow and PhD student.
January 25, 2025 at 1:37 PM
John S. MacDonald Outer Space Lecture with Marc Garneau and Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, an astronaut and a cosmonaut who became leading diplomats.
Moderated by Charlotte Hook, OSI Junior Fellow and PhD student.
Moderated by Charlotte Hook, OSI Junior Fellow and PhD student.
Canada is safe.
January 18, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Canada is safe.
Mother Tree, Salt Spring Island.
Full-sized Australian Shepard provided for scale.
Full-sized Australian Shepard provided for scale.
January 1, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Mother Tree, Salt Spring Island.
Full-sized Australian Shepard provided for scale.
Full-sized Australian Shepard provided for scale.