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Psychiatrist, Analog Astronaut, Chair of S.T.E.A.M. for Humanity, Speaker, Author
Dr. Maria Harney is a physician-scientist, psychiatrist, and entrepreneur whose work spans psychiatry, neurology, and space medicine. She earned her medical degree from the First Pavlov State Medical University in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and began her clinical career at Psycho Neurologic Hospital #6 before relocating to the United States, where she expanded into emergency and space medicine. She currently serves as Crew Psychiatric and Bioethics Officer and Wellness Lead in analog astronaut programs, focusing on mental health, resilience, and human performance in isolated, confined, and extreme environments.
She has participated in 10 analog astronaut missions and contributed to more than 20 space medicine research projects through MMAARS Inc., including work on teleanesthesia, telesurgery, human factors, and astronaut mental health. Her applied research integrates psychiatry and bioethics with emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, drones, and synthetic biology to support cognition, decision-making, and crew cohesion in austere environments.
In 2019, she co-founded Synthetico Inc., a company integrating artificial intelligence, blockchain, and synthetic biology to address challenges in bioengineering and biodiversity preservation. Her academic and professional work has been presented at international venues including the International Astronautical Congress, AIAA SciTech, Cambridge University forums, and other global aerospace and development conferences, and she is a published author.
Dr. Harney holds leadership roles within aerospace medicine and nonprofit organizations, including service with the Aerospace Medical Association (LSBEB) and multiple advisory and governance positions across space, science, and humanitarian initiatives. She has been recognized as a Dame of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia for humanitarian service.
She is actively involved in nonprofit initiatives focused on literacy, education access, and creative development, including collaborations supporting youth mentorship and storytelling in partnership with organizations such as Women in Film, Habitat for Humanity, and Young Storytellers. In 2021, she presented a UN SDG-focused application connecting youth with global mentors to expand educational access.
Dr. Harney is also serving in the Air National Guard at the 146th Airlift Wing in California, contributing to domestic operations including disaster response, COVID-19 support, and wildfire firefighting assistance for the U.S. Forest Service.
List of the selected talks
UPCOMING TALKS:
Illumination lectures - Pasadena, CA, April, 2027
Position: Speaker
Subject: Initiatory Traditions: History, Culture and Geographical Dissemination
Sages & Scholars Conference 2026 - Pasadena, CA, 17th October 2026
Position: Organizer/Presenter
Subject: TBD
SRI Convention 2026, July 1st, Online
Position: Speaker
AI in Space: Ethical Governance, Moral Agency, and Civilizational Risk on Earth and Beyond
MMAARS Virtual Academy Analog Astronautics Program, educational session 1st of March 2026
Position: Lecturer
Subject: Space Philosophy (TBD)
MMAARS Virtual Academy Analog Astronautics Program, educational session 04th of January 2026
Position: Lecturer
Subject: Neuropsychiatry, Metabolism, and the Ethical Limits of Astro-Medical Research
PAST TALKS:
2025 Int’l Mars Society Convention – Mars: The Time Has Come! USC, Los Angeles, October, 2025
Position: Speaker
Subject: Human Health in Space: Comparing Astronautic Exploration Missions and Civilian Space Settlements
Celebrating the Cosmos: The 6th Annual Space Education and Strategic Applications Conference (SESA), APU/AMU
Position: Speaker
Subject: Navigating the Future of Space Travel: Cultural, Leadership, and Social Synergies and Differences Between European (Russian) and Western (U.S.) Astronautic Exploration Missions and Civilian Space Settlements
Space Renaissance Conference, virtual webinar/presentation, 7th of June 2025
Position: Speaker
Subject: Human Health in Space: Comparing Astronautic Exploration Missions and Civilian Space Settlements
MMAARS Virtual Academy Analog Astronautics Program, educational session 23d of March 2025
Position: Speaker
Subject: Engineering Life for Space: Mutation, Metabolomics & Morality
Space.com forum 2025, Orlando, Florida
Position: Author
Subject: Human Health in Space: Comparing Astronautic Exploration Missions and Civilian Space Settlements
AIAA SciTech Forum, 6th of January 2025, Orlando, Florida
Position: Speaker
Subject: Navigating the Future of Space travel: Cultural, Leadership, and Social Synergies and Differences Between European (Russian) and Western (U.S.) Astronautic Exploration Missions and Civilian Space Settlements
The 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Italy, 2024
Position: Co-author
Subject: SpaceGuardianGPT: Psychological health during long durations space flights.
ISDC 2024 (International space development conference): 42nd Annual, CA
Position: Speaker
Subject: Fueling the Journey: Mitochondria, Insulin Resistance, Diets and Our Path to Martian Health
ISDC 2023: A new space age, Dallas-Frisco, TX
Position: Co-author
Subject: Astro-psychiatry, space medicine, and exponential technologies
49th Space congress Space. com Expo, Orlando, FL
Position: Speaker / Panelist
Subject: Astro-psychiatry, space medicine, and exponential technologies
11/2022
International Humans in Space Summit 2022, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) - Online
Position: Speaker
Subject: Astro-psychiatry: novel solutions for mental health for long duration space exploration
07/22-09/22
International space university (ISU), Space Studies Program 2022 - Portugal, Online
Position: Mentor / Speaker
Subject: human factors, astro-psychiatry, exponential technologies, ethics, future challenges in long duration space flight, more.
07/2022
Space Renaissance Art & Science festival - Berlin, Online / Live
Position: Speaker
Subject: Analog Astronauts Training
04/2022
UK Mars Society convention, “CHASM” conference, Cambridge University, UK
Position: Speaker
Subject: Human Factor (actions, cognition, and emotions) in Long Duration Space flight (profiling and crew compositions).
08/2021
55-Year Mission tour: Star Trek, Las Vegas, NV
Position: Speaker
Developing psychological and neurobehavioral countermeasures for analog astronauts living in austere, isolated, and confined environments
10/2020
International Astronautical Congress IAC, online, CA
Position: Speaker / Presenter
Space medicine and biotechnology in analog astronaut settings (austere, isolated, confined environments): training analog astronauts Mars Medic teams in high-fidelity analog missions in Nepal, Himalayas - a case study for future planetary surface expeditions. (International Astronautical Congress 10/2020)
09/2020
United Nation Association - USA - Sustainable Development Goals Service Project Pitch - online
Position: Speaker / Presenter
New application for mobile devices to make the education more accessible around the world by matching youth under 18 with the mentors
12/2019
National space society conference, USC, CA
Position: Speaker
Developing psychological and neurobehavioral countermeasures for analog astronauts living in austere, isolated, and confined environments
06/2019
International Space Development Conference, ISDC, Washington, D.C.
Position: Speaker
Subject: Space Medicine and Exponential Technologies
05/2019
Digital Hollywood, Santa-Monica, CA
Position: Panelist / Speaker
Subject: Integration of exponential technologies (AR/VR, Machine learning, Bioengineering) in developing new paradigm of space medicine and disaster medical challenge
03/2019
City of STEM, Downey, CA
Position: Panelist / Speaker
Subject: LA Innovations conference / panel
12/2018
NASA App challenge competition, Pasadena, CA
Position: Judge / Presenter
Subject: NASA Hackathon
10.2018
International Astronautical Congress (IAC18)
Position: co-author
Artronauts, Astronauts and Alchemnauts: Highlighting the importance of art and human interactions in space missions.
08/2018
Mars Society convention, CA
Position: Speaker
Subject: Life Support and Biomedical Factors / Human Factors and Crew Composition
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"Working with our keynote speaker was an absolute pleasure. Their insightful perspective and engaging delivery captivated our audience, leaving a lasting impact and contributing to the success of our event."
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