Ouyang Ziyuan is a cosmochemist and geochemist, Research professor, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. With a degree in geology and a doctorate in mineral deposits and geochemistry, he spent many years in deep mines. He later studied nuclear physics and worked in a particle accelerator laboratory. Thus, he put forward the hypothesis of formation of iron meteorites, evolution model of forming Jilin meteorites and theory of multi-stage cosmic ray radiation history. His works include Celestial Chemistry, and he published more than 160 treatises.

He was elected a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991.

As one of the most prominent Chinese experts in geological research on underground nuclear test and extraterrestrial materials, he was the first to advocate not only the exploitation of the known huge lunar reserves of metals such as iron, but also the mining of lunar helium-3 as an ideal fuel for nuclear fusion power plants. He is now in charge of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, or Chang'e program. He is not only known to be the strongest supporter of the Chinese manned lunar exploration program, but also as lobbying for the Chinese manned Mars exploration program.

On November 12, 2008, on China’s publication of a comprehensive lunar map, Ouyang Ziyuan encouraged all three Asian nations involved in lunar exploration (China, India and Japan) to increase cooperation in furthering humanity's understanding of the moon.