The author of The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge, Jeremy Narby, PhD, studied anthropology at Stanford University and now works as Amazonian projects director for Nouvelle Planète, a nonprofit organization that promotes the economic and cultural empowerment of indigenous peoples. He lives in Switzerland.

Rafael Chanchari Pizuri is a native of the Peruvian Amazon, an elder of the indigenous Shawi people, and a traditional healer. He lives in Iquitos, Peru.