International Women’s Day: how scientist Angélica Anglés’ mission to find life on Mars is inspiring young women to reach for the stars
- Angélica Anglés’ passion for planets started as a young girl growing up in the Spanish city of Valencia, stargazing with her grandfather
- Now based in Hong Kong, the planetary scientist, astrobiologist and astrophysicist is encouraging more schoolgirls to take STEM subjects
As a planetary scientist, astrobiologist and astrophysicist, Angélica Anglés has a mission to find extraterrestrial life on Mars.
“We will find life on Mars. What type of life, we don’t know,” says the Spaniard, who completed her PhD in astrobiology and planetary exploration at the University of Hong Kong.
“We’re not looking for one-eyed green aliens but microbial life – microorganisms that could be present today, preserved in the subsurface, or any relics from its ancient past.
“For example, we look for bio-minerals, minerals that have been formed by the presence of life. If we find these then it’s a clear indication that there was life at some point in the history of the Red Planet,” she adds, referring to another name given to Mars for its appearance in the sky as an orange-red disc, the colour caused by rust in its rocks.
Finding evidence of life, Anglés says, will rock our world to its core. “It will be a turning point in the history of humankind.”
Anglés’ passion for planets started as a young girl growing up in the Spanish city of Valencia, where she spent time stargazing with her grandfather, who would share stories about the universe. Later, her studies would take her around the world: Sweden, Germany, Britain and now Hong Kong.