‘More than just fantasy’: How this UTSC undergrad found her calling in outer space policy

Long before studying outer space policy, Leah Wolfe was captivated by the characters and worlds of science fiction novels like Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Frank Herbert’s Dune.  

A career in space studies once seemed as distant as the galaxies she read about.  

“You read sci-fi as a kid, but I never thought of it as anything more than fantasy or something engineers do,” says Wolfe, a fourth-year political science specialist at U of T Scarborough.  

By her first year at U of T Scarborough, her childhood dream of becoming a neurosurgeon gave way to political science. Throughout her undergrad, she’s carried a worn copy of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos everywhere, a book that helped her grasp “the technical side of space.” 

Now, Wolfe focuses on translating space data and science into policy and law.  

“I found the U of T Aerospace Team and emailed them about joining a project,” Wolfe says. “It reinvigorated my love for politics and for bridging two fields that don’t seem interconnected at all.  

Founded in 2004, the University of Toronto Aerospace Team (UTAT) is an award-winning interdisciplinary network of undergraduate and graduate students who design and build drones, rockets and satellites, and promote aerospace sustainability through policy and law. 

With the team, Wolfe has researched aerospace policy within the context of environmental outcomes. Last year, the team travelled to Nevada to present their research to academics, space-defence specialists and industry professionals at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation Forum. 

Published by the AIAA, their study examined how the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) drone regulations affect the potential for trucks and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to work together in last-mile delivery through the lens of safety, data privacy, public perception and environmental factors. 

The research found that while UAVs could make deliveries greener, current rules and impacts – including noise pollution and wildlife disturbances – limit their benefits, highlighting the need for smarter regulations and improved technology to make drone delivery more sustainable.  

FAA rules allow drones to fly at speeds up to 160 kilometres per hour. The UTAT team’s model found that the speed could be much lower. For a drone weighing 13 kilograms and carrying a small load of one to two kilograms, the ideal speed is between 72 to 90 kilometres per hour.  

“We found that maximum ground speed regulations provided by the FAA were greater than what is optimal for energy usage,” Wolfe explains. “Public acceptance of drones is also a major hinderance to widespread integration, which directly affects companies that wish to use them for last-mile delivery.” 

Wolfe notes that FAA regulations could guide private companies in improving drones’ energy efficiency.  

“Our recommendations demonstrated that you could lower a lot of these thresholds,” Wolfe says. “You’d still be able to have very accurate, efficient deliveries while also not using too much energy.” 

The forum was Wolfe’s first international conference. She remembers buzzing with excitement, and naturally, a bit of anxiety. But the opportunity solidified her pursuit of the field.  

“When you are surrounded by so many people who understand the depth of the technical side, and you’re the only political science or policy person, you start thinking, ‘Am I out of my depth?’” Wolfe says.

“Afterwards, a woman who worked at NASA 20 years came up to me and said, ‘You did amazing and you should always have confidence in yourself.’ That was so reassuring.” 

Amid a busy schedule, Wolfe also supports initiatives that elevate other Black scholars. 

“The community and opportunities I’ve had here has made it one of the most fulfilling four years of my life.”

She is a student organizer of the Possibilities & Refusals in Black Canadian Studies Symposium, held Oct. 28 at U of T Scarborough. Hosted by the Black Canadian Studies Association and led by Assistant Professor Nicole Bernhardt, the event celebrates the launch of the JCS Special Issue: Nah! On the Possibilities of Ongoing Refusals in Black Canadian Studies. 

Through a recommendation by a family member (and UTSC alum), she also mentored local youth through the Imani Black Academic Mentorship Program, which promotes access in higher education for Black students in the Scarborough community. An Imani Mentor of the Year Award recipient, Wolfe supported Grade 7 and 8 students with tutoring and guidance on education and career planning.  

Now, with one semester left and her sights set on graduate school to continue space law, Wolfe credits her time at U of T Scarborough for shaping both her academic focus and commitment to community.  

“The U of T Scarborough community is so close-knit,” Wolfe says. “The community and opportunities I’ve had here has made it one of the most fulfilling four years of my life.”