The effects of colonization and the protection of human rights are integral themes of the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) program – topics that often become central to discussions on history, times of war, and for one of our students, space travel. Valeria Navarrete is a final-year MPACS student currently interning with The Space Court Foundation, an organization committed to elevating space law and policy education.
With the ongoing global race to increase human space presence, Valeria is interested in the potential conflicts this might produce, something that MPACS speaks to directly. “Day by day, states are competing to build lunar bases, mine resources, and build their presence in space,” explained Valeria. “Humanity must look to our past and ensure we don’t repeat any mistakes. Conversations around colonialism, inclusivity, and whose voices should be heard are crucial as we step into this new venture.”
Valeria notes that the way MPACS has shaped her perspective has proven valuable to how she approaches work. “The program let me take courses at Grebel where there’s an emphasis on bottom-up, local approaches, and then at Balsillie School of International Affairs where there’s an emphasis on the top-down, formal approach,” she said. “Being exposed to these cross-listed courses has been a great way to integrate both sides of learning, because success comes from running with both perspectives.”
Valeria also credits MPACS faculty for her shifting perspective on peace and conflict. Describing the program as a “close-knit community,” she is thankful for the dedicated support and open discussions with her professors about her career aspirations. “While my internship may have been something new in the MPACS space, the faculty were very encouraging,” she said. “My internship supervisor was with me every step of the way.”
“I had a bad case of imposter syndrome when I first started in MPACS,” Valeria said. Being surrounded by highly qualified peers and instructors can be deeply inspiring, but also a little unnerving – something she noted was more than made up for by the supportive ethos of the program. “The one thing I would stress to students considering the MPACS program is that your opinion matters,” she said. “The unique take you bring to the discussion table is what drives the success of this field. Voice yourself. Agree with people. Disagree with people. When I tell my peers that I brought a peacebuilding approach to the space industry, they’re going to have lots of questions – and that’s what this program is all about.”
By Farhan Saeed
The unique take you bring to the discussion table is what drives the success of this field. Voice yourself. Agree with people. Disagree with people. When I tell my peers that I brought a peacebuilding approach to the space industry, they’re going to have lots of questions – and that’s what this program is all about.