For many people, the idea of a “moonshot” feels like an unreachable ambition. In 2015, however, Dr Adriana Marais moved closer to that reality when she was chosen as one of 100 astronaut candidates worldwide for a planned one-way mission to Mars. When that initiative came to an end, she redirected her focus, this time toward the Moon.

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Today, she serves as Head of Science for Africa2Moon, the first pan-African space exploration mission. The project involves sending a pioneering radio telescope to the Moon’s south pole by 2029, an area expected to host the first long-term human research stations beyond Earth. It’s a bold step that places Africa firmly within the future of space exploration.

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Dr Marais is a theoretical physicist whose academic work has explored quantum biology, particularly the role of quantum effects in photosynthesis and the origins of life’s fundamental components in space. She holds positions as a researcher with both Stellenbosch University and the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences in South Africa.

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Since 2017, she has been a Director at the Foundation for Space Development Africa, where she also leads the Africa2Moon initiative. The mission, selected to launch as part of China’s Chang’e-8 program, will enable scientific observations that cannot be conducted from Earth.

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In 2019, she transitioned from her role as Head of Innovation at SAP Africa to establish Proudly Human, an organisation focused on preparing humanity for life in extreme environments, both on Earth and beyond. Through its Off-World Project, she leads experimental work in some of the planet’s harshest conditions to better understand how humans can live sustainably in space.

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Her expertise extends across a wide range of disciplines, from quantum physics and the philosophy of science to bio-inspired technologies, asteroid resource utilisation, and economic systems for constrained environments. She is also affiliated with Singularity University and Duke Corporate Education, where she contributes to global executive education programs, and collaborates with international bodies such as the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator on space resources.

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Dr Marais has received multiple recognitions for her work, including awards from L’Oréal-UNESCO and the Royal Society of South Africa. She was also part of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting for young scientists in physics.

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In 2025, she published her book Out of This World and Into the Next, and received accolades including Forbes Africa’s Award for Academic Excellence and a global Women in Tech award recognising her as one of the most disruptive innovators in the field.

Her passion for exploration began early, at just 13, she won a science expo for a project imagining a city on Mars. Since then, she has travelled to some of Earth’s most extreme environments, from deserts to Antarctica, researching conditions that mirror those of other planets.

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Alongside her scientific work, she is also an active public speaker and thought leader, having presented to audiences across all seven continents. Her work has been featured in international media and documentaries, highlighting Africa’s growing role in the global space industry.

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Through her research, projects, and public engagement, Dr Marais continues to champion the idea that advancing into space can help humanity build a more sustainable and resilient future here on Earth - while laying the groundwork for life beyond it.