Pete Markiewicz grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and developed an early interest in combining science and art. His main interests concern the impact on social trends on technology – in other words, how culture drives technology. His consulting and research try to temper the prevailing techno-centric view of young people with a more balanced view incorporating social and generational trends.

After graduating with a doctorate from the University of Chicago in Biophysics and Theoretical Biology, Markiewicz spent the 1980s developing vaccines for the U.S. Army. Later, at UCLA’s Molecular Biology division he worked on a powerful method for "molecular engineering," wrote computer software, and was an early user of the Internet.

In 1994, Pete left science to co-found Indiespace, one of the first web-based arts and entertainment companies. Throughout the 1990s Indiespace used emerging Internet technologies to promote and distribute independent artists, musicians, filmmakers, and other creatives. Today, Indiespace has morphed to a new media consulting firm, with a particular focus on games and virtual worlds. Markiewicz is co-author (with Jeannie Novak) of the nationally distributed books Creating Internet Entertainment, Web Developer.com Guide to Producing Live Webcasts, and Internet World Guide to Maintaining & Updating Dynamic Web Sites (Wiley).

In the late 1990s, Dr. Markiewicz became aware of acclaimed William Strauss and Neil Howe’s work on US generations through their book Millennials Rising. After publishing extensive generational commentary on the Internet (based in part on experiences Indiespace artists, fans and clients), Strauss and Howe invited him to develop a theory of pop culture based on their Millennial model of youth. The resulting book, Millennials and Pop Culture (Lifecourse Associates) details the impact the newest US generation is likely to have on arts and entertainment during the next decade. It also details the rising generation’s relationship with technology – including traditional media, social networking, and virtual worlds. Pete developed the "Future of Entertainment" lecture series for entertainment companies, and has written about this generation in publications as diverse as Brandchannel.com (“Who’s Filling GenY’s Shoes”) and Robotics Trends.

Pete has also worked in the area of robotics. He developed a plan for a Robotic Design program for the Art Institues (EDMC), and is an instructor in programming languages for the Art Institute of California, Los Angeles. He has introduced the concepts of robotic hardware and software to numerous students. He has published articles on robotics both online and offline in magazines like Robotic Trends and SERVO Magazine. More recently, (January 2005), he became Team Leader for a entry in the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, the aptly named Team Robo Monster.

He currently heads Indiespace’s initiative in Second Life and other virtual worlds, while finding time to teach Interactive Design at the Art Institute of California, Los Angeles.