Member of Executive Meeting

Research summary

I expect that human space exploration to make explosive progress through the utilization of space resources. I am conducting basic research for the near-future utilization of space resources. I have been participating in the solar system exploration programs of space agencies such as JAXA, NASA, and ESA from the planning stage to investigate the surface geology and formation and evolution processes of asteroids, Mars, Venus, and their satellites. Currently, I am contributing to the Mars Mission (MMX), the Lunar Polar Exploration Program (LUPEX), and the Lunar Resource Exploration Program (TSUKIMI), and am also cooperating with domestic and foreign private companies to conduct demonstration experiments to actually use materials from the Moon and asteroids.

Biography

1995.3: Bachelor of Science, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo
1997.3: Master of Science, Geological Institute, School of Science, The University of Tokyo
1999.3 – 2006.10: Assistant Professor, Department of Geosystem Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2000.9: PhD. Department of Earth and Planetary Science, School of Science, The University of Tokyo
2002.8 – 2004.8: Visiting Scholar, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona
2006.11 – 2007.3: Associate Professor, University Museum, The University of Tokyo
2006.11 – 2007.3: Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, School of Science, The University of Tokyo
2007.4 – 2016.11: Associate Professor, University Museum, The University of Tokyo
2007.4 – 2016.11: Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, School of Science, The University of Tokyo
2009.4 – 2016.11: Associate Professor, Department of Complexity Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
2008.9 – present: Planetary Science Institute, senior visiting scientist
2016.12 – present: Professor, Department of Systems Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2016.12 – present: Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, School of Science, The University of Tokyo
2019.4 – 2021.3: Visiting Professor, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, JAXA
2021.4 – 2023.3: Head of Department, Department of Systems Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2023.2 – present: University of Adelaide, Adjunct Professor

2008 SDA award Spatial/Environmental Expression Sign Section
2010 Asahi prize (as Hayabusa project team)
2011 SDA award Spatial/Environmental Expression Sign Section
2012 DSA Special Award for Planning and Research
2021 The University of Tokyo President’s Commendation (Good practice in online and hybrid classes)

Watanabe, S. et al, Hayabusa 2 arrives at the carbonaceous asteroid 16217 Ryugu-A spinning top-shaped rubble pile, Science, 364 (6437) 268-272, 2019
Ohtake, M. et al., The global distribution of pure anorthosite on the Moon, Nature, 461 (7261), 236-240, 2009
Haruyama, J. et al., Lack of exposed ice inside lunar south pole shackleton crater, Science, 322 (5903), 938-939, 2008
Miyamoto, H., et al., Regolith migration and sorting on asteroid Itokawa, Science, 316 (5827) 1011-1014, 2007
Saito, J., et al., Detailed images of asteroid 25143 Itokawa from Hayabusa, Science 312 (5778) 1341-1344, 2006