Risa Koyanagi
Space · Nuclear · Emerging Technology Governance
Risa Koyanagi is a researcher / student at the University of Cambridge working across space, nuclear, and emerging technology governance. Her work focuses on legitimation, dual-use systems, and authority architecture. She is Team Leader of SGAC’s 2026 Space Policy Project Team (Japan), sits on the JAXA International Space Education Board (2026), and is a mentee in the VCDNP 2026–2027 Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme. Her extended abstract on attribution and AI governance was accepted to Data for Policy 2026 (Barcelona). Both of her entries to the Global Trust Challenge reached the prototyping phase — two of the six East Asian teams among eighty selected worldwide. She is an Effective Fellow at Effective Thesis (Summer 2026), was selected for AI Safety Camp’s AI Research Incubator, and is an IBM Qiskit Advocate. She also designs public-facing research platforms on AI governance, strategic infrastructure risk, and interpretive systems.
Recommendation
Risa is a brilliant young researcher, an intellectually flexible thinker, and a sophisticated writer. In twenty-two years of supervising undergraduate and graduate students at Cambridge, I have rarely encountered a student who approaches academic inquiry with such thoughtfulness, motivation, and sincerity. Most impressive of all is that she launched an exceptionally ambitious research project on her own initiative and from a critical perspective. The project addresses the future of lunar governance, and in particular the strategies and objectives of the American and Chinese lunar exploration programmes. She has already coded and analysed an enormous volume of published documents on those programmes. Her theoretical ambition covers a broad range of related concepts of legitimacy, and it is firmly underpinned by careful, comprehensive evidence-based investigation. Her very high aspirations are accompanied by quiet confidence and a modest manner. Her sociability is also extremely well developed, and she will be a wonderful presence. I recommend her with the greatest enthusiasm and without the slightest hesitation.
News
Selected as an adopted researcher for the 6th academist Prize, Humanities & Social Sciences edition (supported by Infomart). The cohort was unveiled at a launch event on 1 September at Inspired.Lab and online, marking the start of the research crowdfunding campaign.
Presented research at the 26th JAXA Space Science Symposium. Afterwards discussed planetary defence governance with Dr. Makoto Yoshikawa, Hayabusa2 mission manager and head of the JAXA Planetary Defence Team, at the JAXA Space Science Centre.
Presented "Who Speaks for Humanity on the Moon?" at the CCIR Research Symposium 2026, University of Cambridge (30–31 July).
Platforms by Risa Koyanagi
Selected Conference Presentations
Forthcoming papers and panels at international research convenings
- 01
Dual-Use Neutralisation and Responsible Behaviour Norms in Lunar Infrastructure Governance
Oral PresentationE9 — Space Security, Stability and Sustainability· 8 October 2026 - 02
Conditional Openness: How Universalist Language Produces Boundaries in Future Lunar Exploration Governance
Interactive PresentationE3 — Space Policy, Regulations and Economics - 03
Mythic Naming as Soft Infrastructure in Competing Lunar Orders: Artemis and Chang’e
Interactive PresentationE5 — Space and Society
Research focuslunar governance, dual-use systems, norm formation, and symbolic infrastructure in emerging space orders.
- 01
Naming as Authority: Attribution as Interpretive Authority in Cyber Conflict, and Its Stakes for AI Governance
Oral PresentationTheme — Governance of/with AI: Implications for Data, Infrastructure, and Tech Sovereignty· 8–10 September 2026
Research focusattribution as interpretive authority in cyber conflict, and what naming practices mean for the governance of and with AI.
Fieldwork & Public Engagement
Fieldwork, leadership, dialogue, and public-facing engagement across policy, research, and international exchange
Fukushima Field Research
2019–2024Multi-site fieldwork in Futaba and Namie districts examining post-disaster governance, trust, and recovery.
AFRECOS
2024Co-Founder & President
Co-founded a 10+ country network for cultural and policy events bridging Africa and Japan.
Art Practice
Interdisciplinary art practice spanning visual thinking, international exhibition, and conceptual work.
Speaking & Policy Engagement
TICAD Ministerial Meeting
Policy engagement and youth representation at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
Japan–Netherlands Peace Exchange
Bilateral dialogue and peace exchange between Japanese and Dutch participants.
Africa–Japan Youth Drive
Youth-focused policy forum addressing Africa–Japan co-creation and development cooperation.
Roundtable and Friends of Education
Hosted by GPE and the World Bank at the Japanese House of Councillors.
Education
University of Cambridge
BA, Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS)
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Sep 2025 – Jun 2026BSc, Politics and International Relations
SOAS University of London
Sep 2024 – Jun 2025Foundation Degree, Social Sciences
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Dec 2022 – Jan 2023Certificate, AI and Digital Transformation in Government
