María Angélica Leal Leal
About me
Colombian biologist and astrobiologist, currently a PhD candidate in Biology and in Space Research and Astrobiology. She is a researcher at the Planetary Sciences and Astrobiology Group (GCPA) and has participated in three Antarctic scientific expeditions. Her research led to the classification of the Nevado del Ruíz Volcano as Colombia’s first Martian analogue, featured on the cover of Icarus, one of the world’s leading planetary science journals. Author of over 20 educational books and 25 scientific papers, she leads Corporación Científica Laguna, promoting science and accessibility with women caregivers and people with disabilities. A member of the OWSD and the Colombian Network of Women Scientists, she inspires girls and young women through her talk “Being an Astrobiologist: A Life Project in Science.”
Colombian biologist and astrobiologist dedicated to advancing planetary sciences, astrobiology, and inclusive scientific education in Latin America. She holds a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from the National University of Colombia and is currently pursuing two PhDs: one in Biology at the same university and another in Space Research and Astrobiology at the University of Alcalá, Spain.
She serves as a researcher in the Planetary Sciences and Astrobiology Group (GCPA), where she has participated in three Antarctic expeditions under the Colombian Antarctic Program. Her research has focused on the study of extreme environments, biogeochemistry, and geomicrobiology, leading to the classification of the Nevado del Ruíz Volcano as the first Martian analogue in Colombia—an achievement that earned a feature on the cover of Icarus, one of the most prestigious planetary science journals in the world.
María Angélica has authored over 25 scientific papers and more than 20 educational books in the areas of astrobiology, environmental education, geobiology, and science communication. Her most relevant publications include Biogeochemical Study of the Periglacial Slopes of the Nevado del Ruíz: Mars Analog (Icarus), The Potential of Deception Island as a Multifunctional Martian Analogue (International Journal of Astrobiology), Phosphate Solubilization by Microorganisms in Pyroclastic Material from Half Moon Island, Antarctica (Polar Biology), and Perchlorate in Antarctica: Astrobiological Perspectives (International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology). Her academic work explores planetary analogues, microbial life in extreme conditions, and the astrobiological potential of volcanic and polar environments.
In addition to her scientific contributions, she is the Executive Director of the Corporación Científica Laguna, a non-profit organization that integrates science, inclusion, and social innovation. Through this initiative, she leads projects that engage women caregivers and people with disabilities in participatory scientific research and environmental education, promoting accessibility and equity in the sciences.
She also leads the Education Team at the Planetarium of Bogotá, where she has developed interdisciplinary programs that connect science, art, and social inclusion, reaching more than 50,000 participants through workshops, talks, and educational experiences. Among her signature outreach efforts is the talk “Being an Astrobiologist: A Life Project in Science”, through which she inspires girls and young women to pursue careers in science and technology.
María Angélica is a member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and a full member of the Colombian Network of Women Scientists, as well as an active collaborator of the Europlanet Colombian Node and the Colombian Antarctic Program. She has helped organize national initiatives such as the Colombian Women and Girls in Science Meeting, which promotes visibility and collaboration among female scientists across disciplines.
Her professional excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including the “Biologist in Action” Recognition (Professional Council of Biology of Colombia, 2023), the “Scientific Mentor for Girls” Recognition (Presidential Council for Women’s Equity, 2021), the “Mujer Épica” Award in the Woman Scientist category (Level Magazine, 2019), the Academic Excellence Mention (Francisco José de Caldas District University, 2025), and the Academic Tuition Exemption Scholarship (National University of Colombia, 2016–2017).
Driven by the philosophy “Do not imitate, create”, María Angélica Leal Leal has built a career that embodies the transformative power of science with purpose. Her work continues to bridge the gap between research and society, proving that scientific discovery, when guided by vocation and empathy, can generate both knowledge and hope for future generations.
