Adam Kampff (1979–2025)

Adam’s time on this planet has come to an end. Yet, as he departs, the journey continues in an ever search to discover and understand the unknown. Adam’s passion for understanding and explaining the world was unmatched. Living by example and never compromising on his dreams, Adam had an uncanny ability to make people around him realize that they can learn and understand anything and everything.

Adam inspired us to find joy and meaning in being curious and playful, building our own tools for discovery, and not taking anything for granted—nor ourselves too seriously. By bringing people together, Adam changed countless lives in his lifelong pursuit of making sense of how things and brains work.

Leaving no black box unopened meant achieving agency over the world and shaping our lives and those of future generations. This is the essence of the TENSS spirit as put in his own words:
https://tinyurl.com/ye29csw3

Until the end, Adam was inspiring in being in the moment—full of love, warmth, and compassion—while still joking playfully. He thought deeply about the people around him: family (Elena, Alice & Albert) and friends, and explained the continuity of life beyond his immediate presence. Even in the hospital room, while barely able to pour water into a cup, Adam had his laptop connected to a robot and was cleaning up code. He hoped time would be enough to finish recording the lectures he envisioned for the No Black Boxes course series.

Adam said he would be watching from afar and asked that we cheer a beer for him at TENSS in 30 years from now. Life is beautiful as it comes—through the people we encounter, befriend, and touch upon.

Remember him for all the good he left in this world and keep his dream alive.

If you want to help Adam’s family and support his legacy (No Black Boxes Foundation), please contribute:
GoFundMe – In memory of Adam