Space, High Seas, Seabed & Antarctic Law (LAWS90115)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2021
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
Overview
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This subject will be delivered online in 2020 over the scheduled dates.
Outer space, high seas, the deep seabed and Antarctica are areas governed by international law using the same set of legal principles centred around international management, non-appropriation, equitable use and peaceful purposes. The importance of these international areas and their resources has increased exponentially over the past 30 years due to globalisation and the need for these resources. New technologies, increasing demands for new resources, climate change and exotic tourism, driven by a tripling of the global economy over the next 30 years, mean that their importance will again increase dramatically. Management of these areas and their valuable resources is a rapidly developing area of international law that will affect many different areas of commerce and the law. This subject provides a unique opportunity to learn from two international lawyers with practical experience in the field.
Principal topics include:
- What are international areas, what is their importance and what are future trends in their use?
- The historical development of regulations governing the use of international areas and their resources, such as fishing, oil and gas extraction, pollution and access to orbits
- Law governing major international areas and their natural resources, including:
- Polar
- Outer space
- High seas
- Deep seabed
- Atmosphere
- Current issues and developments, in particular:
- Management of resources in the deep seabed, continental shelves, polar regions and celestial bodies
- Equitable access to outer space orbits, especially geostationary orbits
- Challenges of tourism in the deep sea, outer space and Antarctica
- Environmental impacts of human activities (polar melting; space debris; ocean fertilisation; marine pollution and dumping)
- The right to protest at sea in connection with the use of natural resources
- New and emerging uses of these areas (e.g. geo-engineering and the use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture).
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the importance of international areas and the types of human activities, including commercial activities, that are undertaken in these places
- Understand the concepts and principles of the international law and policy that govern human activities in these areas
- Be able to critically examine, analyse, interpret and assess the international case law and policy arising from the use of these areas and their natural resources
- Understand the limitations of international law in regulating human activities in these areas
- Be an engaged participant in debate regarding emerging and contemporary issues in the field, such equity, sustainable development, common concern of human kind, common heritage of humankind, environmental impact assessment and benefit sharing
- Have a sophisticated appreciation of the factors and processes driving the evolution of the international law and policy governing the use of international resources
- Have an advanced understanding of situations in which issues of equality and sustainable management of international resources may arise
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating the use and management of international resources, and to critically evaluate existing legal theories, principles and concepts with creativity and autonomy
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to independently examine, research and analyse existing and emerging legal issues relating to the use and management of international resources
- Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding the use and management of international resources to relevant specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Be able demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner and learner in this field of the law.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant's educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class presentation
| During the teaching period | 10% |
Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 3 March 2021 | 90% |
Attendance Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance. Note: the attendance hurdle does not apply when the subject is delivered online. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2021
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a first come, first served basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 3 November 2022