ITWeb and Micro Focus are pleased to announce that Dr Adriana Marais will be the keynote speaker at ‘Experience Micro Focus Universe 2018', the first regional-focused Micro Focus customer conference.

During her address, Marais will discuss her research in quantum biology and the origins of life, the technology required to sustain terrestrial life on Mars and the various projects aiming to send human missions there. She believes the establishment, and potential discovery of evidence of life on Mars, would be one of the most profound possible contributions of science to humanity.

She went to school in Pietermaritzburg, and studied theoretical physics and philosophy at the University of Cape Town. She then completed her MSc summa cum laude in quantum cryptography at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and was awarded her PhD in quantum biology at the same institute in 2015.

Marais is a member of the Quantum Research Group established by Professor Francesco Petruccione at UKZN, and plans to continue doing research in quantum biology, with a focus on studying quantum effects in photosynthesis, in addition to the origins of prebiotic molecules and life itself.

She was recognised by the Mail and Guardian as one of 200 Young South African achievers in 2014, and was one of 15 recipients worldwide of a L'Oreal UNESCO International Rising Talent Grant for Women in Science the year after. She is also the 2016 Royal Society of South Africa Meiring Naude Medal awardee for a young researcher.

Moreover, she attended the prestigious 66th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting as one of 400 most qualified young physicists selected worldwide.

Angela Mace, CRM and events director at ITWeb, says she is thrilled to have such a notable and exciting speaker on board. "It will be fascinating to hear her views on the unique point in the history of life on earth that we are living in."

In addition, Mace says delegates will learn how Micro Focus can help them address their toughest challenges in this hybrid IT world. "Attendees will be able to meet with Micro Focus executives, product specialists and R&D teams, and will have the opportunity to grow their skills via in-depth workshops. They will discover the latest roadmaps and innovations, and be able to explore the entire Micro Focus portfolio, and see product demos live in action in the Experience Zone.

Join your peers and don't miss out on this unique opportunity to learn how to solve your toughest IT challenges together.

Experience Micro Focus Universe 2018; get inspired and discover the power of the Micro Focus portfolio.

Taking place in Johannesburg for the first time, Experience Micro Focus Universe, brought to you in partnership with ITWeb, is now open for registration and you're invited to join us as our guest for the day. Thursday 6 September 2018, Polo Room, Inanda Club, Sandhurst, Johannesburg: click here to register your interest.