Dr. Sarah McKee

Researcher

The more coffee, the better.

Dr. Sarah McKee is a Researcher in the Research Depart­ment Inter­national Security and the Science for Nuclear Diplo­macy Research Group at PRIF. Her research inte­rests include nuclear high-altitude electro­magnetic pulse, the dual use of nuclear techno­logies in space, space nuclear weapon deli­very systems, orbital behaviours of satel­lites and the inter­rogation of orbital payloads.

Sarah McKee
mckee(at)prif.org

CV

| since 2025
Researcher in the Research Depart­ment Inter­national Security at PRIF

| 2020 – 2024
Ph.D. in Science with Physics at the North-West Uni­versity/South African Na­tional Space Agency

| 2018 – 2019
M.Sc. in Astro­physical Sciences at the North-West Uni­versity

| 2017
B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physics at the North-West Uni­versity

| 2014 – 2016
B.Sc. in Com­puting Science (Applied Mathe­matics, Solid state physics & Crystallo­graphy) at the Nelson Mandela Uni­versity

Projects

Publications

  • Evaluation and analysis of Voyager 1 48-s resolution magnetic field data
    | 2023
    Evaluation and analysis of Voyager 1 48-s resolution magnetic field data.
  • The effects of Solar radio bursts on frequency bands utilised by the aviation industry in Sub-Saharan Africa
    | 2023
    The effects of Solar radio bursts on frequency bands utilised by the aviation industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Rüstungsdynamiken / Risiken und Chancen neuer Technologien.
    | 2026
    Daase, Christopher; Fehl, Caroline; Göttsche, Malte; Jakob, Una; Kadyhev, Timur; Łabuz, Mateusz; McKee, Sarah; Reinhold, Thomas; Reis, Kadri; Schörnig, Niklas; Schulze, Matthias; Suckau, Liska (2026): Rüstungsdynamiken / Risiken und Chancen neuer Technologien., in: bicc, IFSH, INEF, PRIF (eds), Friedensgutachten 2026. Die neuen Warlords. Gewaltdynamiken einhegen, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, 90–109.
    Publication
    ISBN: 978-3-8394-7968-1

  • Escaping the Heat? The Politics and Problems of Orbital Data Centers
    | 2026
    McKee, Sarah (2026): Escaping the Heat? The Politics and Problems of Orbital Data Centers, PRIF Blog, Frankfurt/M.
    Publication
  • The Strait of Hormuz in Perspective: One Global Chokepoint, Multiple Vulnerabilities, Compounded Effects
    | 2026
    Birchinger, Sophia; Flamm, Patrick; Abb, Pascal; Al-Wally, Mariam; Driedger, Jonas J.; Kebede, Sandra; Koyier, Hilda; McKee, Sarah; Michelini, Sidney; Peters, Dirk; Sebgo, Jean-Baptiste; Simon, Hendrik; Standke-Erdmann, Madita; Stühlen, Christin; Trpkovic, Mina; Warnck, Skollan Elisabeth; Witt, Antonia; Xian, Yaolong (2026): The Strait of Hormuz in Perspective: One Global Chokepoint, Multiple Vulnerabilities, Compounded Effects, PRIF blog, Frankfurt/M..
    Publication
  • Treaties and Instruments Related to Arms Control, Disarmament, and Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
    | 2025
    McKee, Sarah; Rademacher, Lukas (2025): Treaties and Instruments Related to Arms Control, Disarmament, and Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in: Daase, Christopher; Reis, Kadri; Göttsche, Malte (eds), New Realities of AI in Global Security. CNTR Monitor – Technology and Arms Control 2025.
    Publication

Further Activities

  • Member of the South African Institute of Physics
  • South African National Space Agency Alumni
  • Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Alumni
  • Member of the “Quote this Woman” database (media and journalism specialist sources)
  • Affiliated with the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)

| September 2024
Fron­tiers Of Science Meeting, Johannes­burg, South Africa

| June–July 2024
Lindau Nobel Laureate meetings, Lindau (Boden­see), Germany

| September 2018
COSPAR Space Weather capacity building work­shop, Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil

| June–July 2016
Inter­national Space Weather camp, Her­manus, South Africa

  • Using space weather know­ledge and instrumentation to solve prob­lems which con­cern quality of human life, Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings film project, June 2024.
  • Is there weather in space? Specialist panel dis­cussion on World Meteoro­logical Day, Cape Talk, March 23, 2022.
  • Is the sky really the limit for WiPiSA? SABC Africa, August 12, 2020.

  • The High School for Girls, Science Expo Judge, July 11, 2019, Potchef­stroom, South Africa.
  • Centre for High Perfor­mance Com­puting program­ming work­shop, assistant teacher, June 29–July 6, 2019, Potchef­stroom, South Africa.

  • Best group pro­ject at the 2018 COSPAR space weather capa­city building work­shop.
  • Honourary aca­demic colours from North-West Uni­versity 2018 (Disciplines: Space and Astro­physics)