Welcome to a further instalment of our 'Spotlight On' series where we celebrate the world-leading work of our academics. Dr Nikita Chiu's research is transforming how we approach high-tech sectors such as space exploration.
Watch our video with Nikita, and read more about her career and research below.
Nikita champions sustainability and inclusivity in humanity's most ambitious endeavours, and now is the best of times to bring the vision to life.
Recent developments in the space sector – such as industry-disrupting reusable rocket technology from SpaceX, and Blue Origin’s announced plan to launch wheelchair users to space, are a sign of a refreshed appetite for innovation and progress.
The announcement from the European Space Agency (ESA) of the selection of the first-ever astronaut with diverse abilities is another milestone.
But, with these ambitious endeavours, Nikita believes the space industry needs academic and industry collaboration to advance sustainable and inclusive innovation.
Particularly, her research explores the social, economic, policy, and global security impacts of the growing commercialisation of robotics, quantum computing, and space technologies.
She also looks at how to make high-performance technology sectors – like space exploration, polar research, deep-sea exploration, Formula One and Formula E – more sustainable and inclusive without compromising performance.
Having a varied career background, Nikita brings together expertise in international relations, technology policy, and innovation management in her research.
She develops actionable strategies to help technology sectors prepare for complex risks. These risks often occur when financial, operational, and global policy challenges overlap.
This can be evidenced by CN2i, a global collaborative network that Nikita leads to promote inclusive innovation for critical operations. Alongside Naoko Yamazaki, the project's Lead Astronaut and Chief Scientific Advisor – and the second Japanese woman to fly to space - Nikita develops models to mitigate risks and strengthen safety for future exploration.
Her team is also conducting fundamental research to support ESA's parastronaut efforts, to understand and overcome current barriers to inclusion.
Nikita 's first explored space sustainability in 2015-2016, before Starlink became widely known. The topic seemed niche then and opportunities were limited.
This early work on space sustainability came at a crucial time. Nikita advocated for recognising space resources as depletable assets requiring global cooperation.
She was invited to present these ideas at major international forums, including the 2017 UN Office for Outer Space Affairs-UAE High-Level Forum.
Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) recognised her as one of the 2019 "20 under 35" future leaders for her pioneering work on space sustainability.
In 2022 Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS)appointed Nikita as a Visiting Fellow where she contributed to the "Enabling Responsible Space Exploitation" project, anchoring burgeoning space discussions at Durham on the importance of space sustainability.
This project became the foundation for Durham's Space Research Centre. In 2024, she joined our Business School and the Space Research Centre as Associate Professor in Space Innovation and Technology Governance to turn the vision of a sustainable and inclusive space future into reality.
In 2025, Nikita launched Durham's first Inclusive Space Innovation Lab and Astronaut Pre-Selection Challenges Competition, working closely with astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, polar explorer Daniel Cron, and communications expert from Thales Alenia Space in Turin. Their aim - to enthuse the next generation of space innovators.
Nikita’s goal is to inspire students and professionals from both SHAPE and STEM backgrounds to bring new ideas to the space sector and to instil positive changes in this established industry by making it more diverse, more responsible and more sustainable.
She believes space exploration can unite rather than divide and is committed to ensuring space remains a domain for collaboration.
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