Dr. Erika DeBenedictis, CEO of Pioneer Labs and a Resident at the Astera Institute, will be giving a plenary talk at the 28th Annual International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 9–11, 2025, at the University of Southern California (USC). Her talk, titled “Opportunities for a Green Human Civilization on Mars,” will explore how principles of evolution and biological engineering can be applied to building sustainable life beyond Earth.
Dr. DeBenedictis is also the lead author of a new research paper examining novel approaches to Mars terraforming—offering timely insights into how biology might play a transformative role in making the Red Planet more habitable.
With a diverse background that spans physics, computer science, and biology, Dr. DeBenedictis brings a multidisciplinary approach to some of the most ambitious challenges facing humanity. She holds a BS in computer science from Caltech and a PhD in biological engineering from MIT. After leading an academic lab at the Francis Crick Institute in London, she shifted her focus to building new institutions for science and technology. In addition to her role at Pioneer Labs, she is the founder of The Align Foundation, which supports work at the intersection of biology and long-term human flourishing.
The Mars Society Convention is an annual gathering of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and space enthusiasts from around the world committed to the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. For full details, including how to register and opportunities to volunteer, visit marssociety.org.
