Adriana Marais
Dr Adriana Marais is an award-winning theoretical physicist and internationally renowned advocate for off-world exploration. Her PhD and postdoctoral work in quantum biology focused on photosynthesis and the origins of the building blocks of life in space.
She was Head of Innovation at SAP Africa between 2017 and 2019, and is currently a Director at the Foundation for Space Development Africa. Their Africa2Moon mission has been selected for launch to the Moon with China's Chang'e-8 mission is scheduled for 2029, and Marais is Head of Science for the mission.
In 2020, she was among 5 global finalists for Women in Tech's the Most Disruptive Woman in Tech Award, and was one of 100 candidates selected for Mars One. In 2025 she received Forbes Africa's Award for Academic Excellence at the Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit, as well as the Most Disruptive Award at the Women in Tech Global Awards Ceremony in Paris.
Books by Adriana Marais
Out of this World and into the Next
Adriana Marais
A theoretical physicist's grand tour of how life emerged on earth and how human civilization will begin expanding beyond our home planet