SASTA Congress 2016 was opened withan “out of this world” address from the guest speaker Dr Adriana Marais. Adriana has stirred much interest in her bid to be selected for the Mars One mission, which will establish the first human colony on Mars in 2025.
At the 2016 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, Mars hosted a Science Breakfast for 100 of the scientists attending the conference to ask, ‘Why does soft matter matter?’ Adriana Marais joined the panel discussion to offer her views on soft matter, scientific exploration and the origins of life. She is a postdoctoral researcher in quantum biology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, in Durban, South Africa and one of the 100 finalists in Mars One’s Project Astronaut who could be flying to Mars in 2026.
YOUNG female scientists from six continents were last night named “international rising talents” at the L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science” awards in Paris.
The awards are presented annually to 15 PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, selected from the winners of the 236 fellowships awarded by L’Oréal subsidiaries and UNESCO around the world. South African quantum biologist Adriana Marais is using quantum physics to explore the role of photosynthesis in the origins of life.
Adriana Marais is not just another PhD student in the field of quantum biology – she is one of the remaining 705 candidates earmarked to establish a human colony on Mars in 2024.
“Having decided as a child to become an astronaut, I planned to study astrophysics or aeronautical engineering, but at the time became drawn to quantum mechanics, and eventually was led into research aimed at answering the question ‘what is life?’ and therefore the possibility of being part of the Mars project will most decidedly be the ultimate challenge for me.” In the meantime her time is spent fruitfully on various aspects in her field and her research is already being published nationally and internationally.
Two South African women receiving €15 000 towards their doctoral research. The majority of the 10 fellowship winners are based at South African universities.
The programme is meant to encourage women to conduct and complete doctoral research in the male-dominated field of science.
Adriana Marias (University of KwaZulu-Natal) is conducting research into quantum biology and Mpho Ivy Raborife (University of Witwatersrand) focuses on computer science.