Hikaru YabutaPrincipal Investigator, Deputy Director of Science, Steering Committee Member

Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Earth and Planetary System Science, Professor

hyabuta_at_hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Hikaru Yabuta’s research focuses on the origin and evolution of organic molecules in space. Her study aims to understand the chemical history of the early Solar System through chemical and isotopic analysis of organic matter in meteorites and cosmic dusts. Yabuta has contributed to JAXA’s asteroid sample return mission “Hayabusa2” since its pre-project phase. She led the organic macromolecule sub-team in the initial analysis of the asteroid Ryugu samples collected and returned by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft.

Hikaru's Website