Bertrand Piccard was born in Lausanne (Switzerland) into a family of explorers and scientists.  His grandfather was the first person to explore the stratosphere  and he invented the bathyscaphe with which his father dived to the deepest point in the oceans. Bertrand seemed to be predestined to perpetuate one of the greatest family adventures of the 20th century.  Married, and father of three children, this scientist-adventurer,  psychiatrist and aeronaut combines science and adventure to explore the human soul.

Growing up in a ballooning and inventing family, Bertrand has always been fascinated with flight and exploration. He became a hang-glider pilot and developed an interest in ultra-light motorised flight, as well as the gas balloons his grandfather, Auguste Piccard, had set records in.

In 1999, Bertrand and English balloonist, Brian Jones, set off in the balloon, Breitling Orbiter 3 from Chateau d'Oex in Switzerland, on the first non-stop balloon circumnavigation of the globe. They landed in Egypt after a 45,755-kilometre flight lasting 19 days, 21 hours and 47 minutes.

In recognition of this achievement, Bertrand received awards including the Harmon Trophy, the FAI Gold Air Medal and the Charles Green Salver.

In 2004, Bertrand co-announced a project in cooperation with the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), for a solar-powered, long-range, one-seater glider named Solar Impulse. Bertrand aims to use the craft to circumnavigate the globe, using several pilots in relay, in 2011.

Bertrand is well known for his passion and flamboyant expression, "Welcome to those who believe in the power of dreams and who would like to join me in my exploration of life".

Bertrand is also a lecturer and supervisor at the Swiss Society for Medical Hypnosis.