Mission accomplished for scientist who set out to bring astrobiology to Portugal

After completing her chemistry degree at Portugal’s Instituto Superior Técnico in 2002, Zita Martins was sure of two things. She wanted to pursue a career that combined her chemistry expertise with her interest in the universe. And to begin that career she would need to leave her home country. ‘I didn’t want to be just a chemist for the rest of my life. But there was no astrobiology in Portugal, as plain and simple as that,’ she says. ‘To work in this field, I had to leave home. My goal was to come back with all the knowledge and a network of contacts.’