Keynotes 45–60 min, executive briefings, fireside Q&A, workshops on off-world systems design, sustainability, and innovation.
Executive teams, innovation leaders, sustainability and ESG groups, engineering and product teams, universities, and public-sector forums.
From winning first prize at the local Science Expo for her project ‘Martian City‘ at age 13, in 2015, Adriana was selected as one of 100 international astronaut candidates with the Mars One Project.
When the startup declared bankruptcy in 2019, she founded Proudly Human. She has recently visited some of the harshest and most remote locations on Earth, from deserts in Africa and the Middle East, all the way to Antarctica, on location scouts for Proudly Human’s Off-World Project.
The Project is a series of off-grid habitation experiments in the most extreme environments on the planet, in preparation for life on the Moon, Mars and beyond, as well as a sustainable future here on Earth.
Proudly Human is currently preparing to secure a major broadcaster for the documentary series to accompany the experiments, ‘Mission: OFF-WORLD’.
She has given hundreds of talks to audiences on all seven continents of this planet, in settings from corporates to ashrams to TEDx events, been featured in media interviews and panel discussions around the world, as well as in documentaries including AOL’s ‘Citizen Mars’, and CNN’s ‘Africa’s Space Race’.
She is currently completing a book ‘Mission Off-World: The Allure of the Unknown’, describing how through technological advancement and an evolved perspective of reality and our place in it, expanding beyond Earth will enable us to become better stewards of our home planet and equip us for the beginning of our journey into the stars.
Dr. Adriana Marais is a South African theoretical physicist and technologist known for her work at the intersection of quantum biology, off-world habitation, and human exploration. Selected in 2015 as one of 100 Mars One astronaut candidates, she later founded Proudly Human, which designs off-grid living experiments in extreme environments to prepare for life on the Moon, Mars, and beyond while accelerating sustainability here on Earth.
Adriana has delivered hundreds of talks across all seven continents and appears in documentaries including AOL’s Citizen Mars and CNN’s Africa’s Space Race. Her forthcoming book, Mission Off-World: The Allure of the Unknown, charts why expanding beyond Earth can make us better stewards of this planet. She travels from Johannesburg.
Dr. Adriana Marais stands at the frontier of human exploration, both on Earth and beyond. As a theoretical physicist and technologist, she illuminates the pathways to our cosmic future with a blend of scientific rigor and unbridled curiosity. Her journey, driven by a profound belief in the potential of humanity, has taken her to the precipice of possibility, where the realms of theoretical physics intersect with the boundless expanse of space exploration. Dr. Marais is not merely a scholar of the cosmos but an impassioned advocate for the expansion of human consciousness and civilization into the stars.
With a foundation in theoretical physics, Dr. Adriana Marais has delved deep into the mysteries of the universe, exploring the fundamental principles that govern its existence. Her research, spanning topics from quantum mechanics to cosmology, has earned her recognition as a leading mind in the field. Yet, her expertise extends beyond the confines of academia; as a technologist, she bridges the gap between theory and application, envisioning the technologies that will propel humanity towards its extraterrestrial destiny.
Adriana Marais speaking influence extends far beyond the lecture hall. Her dynamic presence and compelling narrative have captivated audiences around the globe, inspiring a new generation of thinkers and innovators to reach for the stars. Whether discussing the theoretical underpinnings of interstellar travel or the practical challenges of establishing colonies on other planets, she brings a unique blend of insight, passion, and optimism to every speaking engagement. From prestigious scientific conferences to TED talks and corporate events, Adriana Marais voice resonates with clarity and purpose, igniting imaginations and sparking conversations that transcend boundaries.
At the heart of Dr. Adriana Marais message lies a profound vision of human potential. She believes that we are living at a pivotal moment in the history of our species, where the convergence of technological advancement and cosmic exploration offers unprecedented opportunities for growth and discovery. By sharing her own journey – from the laboratories of academia to the frontiers of space exploration – she empowers others to embrace the unknown, to question the limits of what is possible, and to dare to dream of a future among the stars.
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Adriana opens with awe at our moment in history. Humanity can now probe life at scales smaller than atoms while scanning the skies for life light-years away. This flourishing of knowledge seems to defy entropy, yet she argues many people still miss the bigger picture in an era of information overload. She declares a personal mission to be as improbable as possible and to contribute from a new world as one of the first citizens on Mars.
She introduces quantum mechanics and scale, moving from micrometers to nanometers to atoms, then bridges to quantum biology. The best-established example is the first billionth of a second of photosynthesis, whose near-perfect efficiency requires quantum explanations. Understanding this photon-by-photon process can inspire artificial photosynthesis for better food and energy systems. For her, the grand prize is deeper: if quantum biology helps answer the question what is life, we gain a framework for distinguishing living systems from inanimate matter and for explaining emergence.
The lens then widens to astrobiology. Distances are cast in light-time, from Mars minutes away to the edges of the observable universe. She introduces panspermia and meteorites rich in amino acids as plausible steps in life’s origin story. The point is scale and rarity. In a vast universe, we are the only known life. That argues for expansion and stewardship.
Marais grounds Mars in human history. We are all descendants of one-way trips. Exploration built the tools we now depend on. She believes a hostile Martian environment will force breakthroughs in renewables, resource efficiency, circular systems, and ethics that value life as a precious resource. Those lessons can flow back to Earth to fight climate change and poverty. She closes with a clear commitment. She is prepared to give up life on Earth for the chance to extend humanity’s knowledge and presence. The allure of the unknown outweighs the comfort of the known, and this is the moment to expand imagination and world together.
00:35 Entropy vs the surge of human information and curiosity
01:06 Personal thesis — be an improbable human; Mars as contribution
01:38 Scales of reality — micrometers to nanometers to atoms
02:18 What is quantum biology and why it matters
02:52 Photosynthesis at femtosecond scales; near-perfect efficiency
03:28 Toward artificial photosynthesis and energy innovation
03:58 The deeper question — defining life and emergence
04:36 Astrobiology frame — distances in light-time from Mars outward
05:15 Panspermia and meteorites with amino acids
05:48 A researcher’s big picture — from atoms to the cosmos
06:20 Humanity as rare example; responsibility to expand wisely
06:52 One-way trips as human heritage; personal Mars commitment
07:26 Exploration drives technology; historical analogies
07:58 Why Mars — constraints that force sustainable solutions
08:34 Circular systems, solar energy, and resource efficiency
09:05 Ethics on Mars — valuing life and fragile ecosystems
09:36 Benefits flowing back to Earth — climate and poverty focus
10:05 Vision of future Martians telling origin stories
10:34 Call to imagine, explore, and contribute beyond comfort
Off-world living and mission design, sustainability lessons from extreme environments, quantum biology and the future of life sciences, and space-inspired innovation.
Yes. Content is tailored with industry examples and local sustainability priorities.
Johannesburg, with international engagements.
Carol Tshabalala is one of Africa’s most iconic sports broadcasters and an inspiring pioneer in her field. Dubbed South Africa’s “First Lady of Sport,” Carol has broken barriers in a male-dominated industry, building a career that has spanned over 20 years. Her journey has seen her rise to global recognition, with work that includes covering […]
Lerato Mbele joined the BBC in 2012. Prior to that, Lerato served as a Senior Business Anchor for CNBC Africa. She hosted a variety of business programs and discussions related to the economics, business strategy, stock markets, entrepreneurship and leadership. Lerato Mbele began her journalism career in 1999 at South Africa’s state-owned broadcaster The South […]
Maps Maponyane – Celebrity MC completed his high school career at St John’s College in 2008. He studied at Wits University from 2010 until 2012 and completed his BA Degree in Media Studies, French and English (Majors) and International Human Rights. Maps Maponyane is considered one of South Africa’s most stylish men. He is a TV […]
Ziyanda Ngcobo is a seasoned senior politics reporter at Newzroom Afrika, where her insightful coverage and incisive commentary on political affairs have solidified her reputation as a respected broadcaster and moderator. With a career deeply rooted in journalism, Ziyanda’s journey began at VOW FM (Voice of Wits), marking the inception of what would evolve into […]
Keenan Cerff is a quirky comedian straight out of Lavender Hill in Cape Town. He has been on the comedy scene since 2013, performing across the country. Keenan has opened for a host of SA’s top comedians including Marc Lottering, Riaad Moosa and Eugene Khoza – to name a few. Keenan has opened for a […]
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