Risa Koyanagi
Space · Nuclear 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.
News
Research crowdfunding campaign for the 6th academist Prize (Humanities & Social Sciences) reached its ¥750,000 goal. The project asks who decides that a nuclear reactor starting up on an uninhabited Moon is "safe", and aims to design verification institutions before the first reactor runs. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported, shared and cheered on the project. The campaign remains open until 29 October.
Poster accepted for the Technical AI Governance Forum 2026, organised by the Cambridge ERA:AI Fellowship and the Oxford AI Governance Initiative (14–15 November, Prince Philip House, London). The second edition of the Forum brings together 180 technical researchers, policymakers and funders working on how technical mechanisms can enable effective governance of increasingly capable AI systems, with a focus on trustworthy auditing, AI verification and AI R&D automation.
Two papers accepted for the 68th Annual Convention of the International Studies Association (ISA), "Amnesia and Reckoning" (Atlanta, 21–24 March 2027): "Who Decides What 'Under Control' Means? Definitional Authority and the Hollowing of Oversight in a Nuclear Disaster" (panel: Planetary, Catastrophic, and Crisis Governance) and "Who Speaks for Humanity on the Moon? Legitimation Audiences, Translation Devices, and Authority Architecture in Lunar Governance" (panel: Before the Rules Harden: The Struggle to Govern the New Space Order).
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
Who Decides What “Under Control” Means? Definitional Authority and the Hollowing of Oversight in a Nuclear Disaster
Oral PresentationPanel MA24 — Planetary, Catastrophic, and Crisis Governance· 22 March 2027 - 02
Who Speaks for Humanity on the Moon? Legitimation Audiences, Translation Devices, and Authority Architecture in Lunar Governance
Oral PresentationPanel MC29 — Before the Rules Harden: The Struggle to Govern the New Space Order· 22 March 2027
Research focusdefinitional authority and the hollowing of oversight in a nuclear disaster, and legitimation audiences and authority architecture in competing lunar governance frameworks.
- 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)
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Dec 2022 – Jan 2023Certificate, AI and Digital Transformation in Government
