Juan Manuel Santos
2016 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate | President of Colombia, 2010–2018 | Chair, The Elders | WEF Global Statesman of the Year | Author, The Battle for Peace
Didier Queloz
2019 Nobel Laureate in Physics | Jacksonian Professor, University of Cambridge | Discoverer of the First Exoplanet | ETH Zurich
Didier Queloz's 1995 discovery of the first planet outside our solar system triggered one of the greatest revolutions in modern science — over 6,000 exoplanets have since been found. The 2019 Nobel Physics Laureate and Cambridge professor now leads the search for life in the universe, bringing audiences face to face with the deepest question humanity has ever asked.
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Didier Queloz biography
Didier Queloz is one of the most consequential scientists of the modern era — the astronomer whose 1995 discovery of the first planet outside our solar system permanently altered humanity’s understanding of its place in the cosmos. Born in Switzerland in 1966, he earned his doctorate from the University of Geneva under Michel Mayor, and it was during that doctoral research that the two made their world-changing observation: a giant planet orbiting the star 51 Pegasi, detected through the precise measurement of stellar radial velocity using a custom spectrograph called ELODIE. The discovery, published in Nature, upended prevailing theories of planetary formation and launched an entirely new field of science.
Nobel Prize speaker Didier Queloz is today the Jacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, where he is also a fellow of Trinity College, and holds a professorship in physics at ETH Zurich. He is additionally the founding director of the Center for the Origin and Prevalence of Life at ETH Zurich, an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to understanding how life emerges in planetary environments — extending his original discovery into its most profound implication: are we alone?
The Exoplanet Revolution and the Search for Life
The discovery of 51 Pegasi b did not merely add a planet to a catalogue. Since then, more than 6,000 worlds have been identified in the Milky Way, radically transforming our understanding of the cosmos and Earth’s place within it. Queloz has been at the forefront of this revolution throughout — developing new instruments, detection algorithms, and observational techniques that have enabled discoveries ranging from super-Earths to retrograde hot Jupiters. He has over 400 scientific publications attracting more than 50,000 citations, with an H-index of 115.
For this body of work, he shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics with Michel Mayor and James Peebles, awarded for contributions to our understanding of the evolution of the universe and Earth’s place in the cosmos. He had previously received the Wolf Prize in Physics in 2017 and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in 2011.
As a science speaker, Didier Queloz brings to his audiences something rare: the lived experience of a discovery that changed science forever, paired with a rigorous and inspiring vision of where the search for life in the universe is heading. His talks explore the nature of scientific breakthroughs, the discipline and creativity required to ask the right questions, what the diversity of planets tells us about the conditions for life, and why the question of whether Earth is unique is now, for the first time in history, a scientific one. Senior audiences in science, technology, innovation, and leadership leave with a sharper sense of the horizon — and of the human courage it takes to reach it.
Didier Queloz Speaking Videos
Didier Queloz - Exoplanets
Nobel Lecture: Didier Queloz, Nobel Prize in Physics 2019
Didier Queloz Keynote Topics
In 1995, a young doctoral researcher in Geneva detected a signal no one expected — and in doing so, proved that planets beyond our solar system were not just theoretically possible, but real and abundant. Queloz recounts the human story behind the discovery of 51 Pegasi b: the instruments built from scratch, the data that defied prevailing theory, and the courage to trust an anomaly when every model said it couldn't be right. A masterclass in scientific thinking, intellectual honesty, and the conditions that allow genuine breakthroughs to happen.
For the first time in human history, the question of whether life exists elsewhere in the cosmos is a scientific one — not a philosophical one. Queloz maps the extraordinary progress made since 1995: from the first exoplanet to the characterisation of thousands of worlds, the identification of habitable zones, and the emerging field of astrobiology that links planetary science, chemistry, and biology in the search for biosignatures. A visionary and rigorous address for audiences who want to understand where science is heading and what it will mean for humanity when we find the answer.
Nobel Prizes are rarely won by following the established path. Queloz draws on his own experience — and the broader history of the exoplanet revolution — to explore what genuine innovation requires: the willingness to question consensus, the discipline to build better tools, and the resilience to defend an unexpected result. This talk translates the logic of scientific discovery into practical lessons for organizations navigating uncertainty, building research cultures, and trying to find the signal in the noise.
FAQs on Booking Didier Queloz
Why Didier Queloz?
Booking Didier Queloz for your event means bringing one of the most celebrated scientists alive to your stage — a 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physics whose discovery didn't just advance science but fundamentally changed how humanity understands its place in the universe. What makes Queloz exceptional as a speaker is not just the prestige of the Nobel Prize, but his ability to translate one of the most profound scientific revolutions of our time into a compelling, accessible, and deeply inspiring narrative. His talks resonate with audiences in science, technology, innovation, and leadership — anyone who wants to understand what genuine breakthroughs require and where the most exciting frontiers of human knowledge lie. Aurum Speakers Bureau handles every aspect of the booking to ensure a seamless experience for your event.
What did Didier Queloz discover?
Together with Michel Mayor in 1995, Queloz discovered 51 Pegasi b — the first extrasolar planet confirmed to be orbiting a Sun-like star. The planet was detected by measuring tiny periodic shifts in the star's radial velocity caused by the gravitational pull of the orbiting planet — a technique made possible by a high-precision spectrograph the pair had developed. The discovery was published in Nature and triggered an extraordinary revolution in astronomy: today, more than 6,000 exoplanets are known, and the search for Earth-like worlds in the habitable zones of other stars is one of the most active frontiers in science.
What is Didier Queloz working on now?
Queloz is the founding director of the Center for the Origin and Prevalence of Life at ETH Zurich, an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to studying the emergence of life in planetary environments. He also directs the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe at the University of Cambridge. His current research connects exoplanet characterisation with chemistry, geophysics, and biology to address the conditions required for life to emerge — pushing his original 1995 discovery toward its ultimate question: is life a common feature of the universe, or a rare accident?
What topics does science speaker Didier Queloz cover?
Didier Queloz speaks on the discovery and science of exoplanets, the search for life beyond Earth, the nature of scientific breakthroughs and how paradigm shifts happen, the future of space exploration and astrobiology, and the broader philosophical implications of humanity's expanding view of the cosmos. His sessions work especially well for audiences in science, technology, innovation, research, and higher education, as well as for leadership events that prize intellectual depth and visionary thinking. To book Didier Queloz, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Didier Queloz as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Didier Queloz as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Didier Queloz's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Didier Queloz or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Didier Queloz speaking fee?
Didier Queloz speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Didier Queloz to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Didier Queloz.
How can I contact Didier Queloz?
We only work with Didier Queloz on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Didier Queloz and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Didier Queloz speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Didier Queloz for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Didier Queloz for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Didier Queloz is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Didier Queloz for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
