By John Letzing, MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. (MarketWatch) – Investing during a recession is often touted as wise. Investing in classes loosely based on the science fiction-like notion of technology outsmarting its human creators may strike some as a curious approach to the concept, however.

Nevertheless, school officials say more than 1,200 applications were submitted for 40 inaugural spots at the recently-opened Singularity University, housed in an unassuming building at the sprawling NASA research center in Silicon Valley.

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We’ve just completed our first week of Singularity University and I have to say that I’m extremely pleased and proud of what we have created.  It is real, off and running, and here to stay.

From the Student perspective, we have pulled together an incredible group of brilliant and dedicated graduate students who are all entrepreneurs, driven and passionate about taking on the world’s grand challenges.  When we selected our students based upon the criteria of academic excellence, demonstrated entrepreneurship and big-picture thinking, we did not know we’d be attracting fun, high-spirited and good natured individuals as well.  I’m pleased the traits matched-up!

Equally rewarding is the Faculty.  They’ve been spectacular.  Going from a lecture by Vint Cerf on the internet’s origin, to Ralph Merkle on the basics of nanotech, to a lecture by Astronaut Dan Barry on high-risk scenarios in space exploration all in the past of 4 hours is an intellectual feast.  Having Trustees Bob Richards, and Michael Simpson here, as well as my co-Founder Ray Kurzweil here for the first five days was fantastic.  We all greatly enjoyed the screening of Transcendent Man — a truly beautiful film.

Our home at NASA Ames, courtesy of Dr. Pete Worden and NASA HQ is tremendous.  The facilities are excellent and the setting could not be better.  As Pete said in the opening ceremony… Welcome to Starfleet Academy!

SU runs 24×7, and the nickname “sleepless university” has its merits… hopefully things will settle down shortly.  But none the less, the Canada Day party with the maple tree and flying canoe was great, and the July 4^th singularity machine building competition, run by Harry Kloor, delivering 6 garnished hotdogs was a blast.

As the first week of  ‘getting to know each other’ and ‘introductory lectures’ is behind us, the real work of focusing on the curriculum and figuring out how to bring life to the “10 to the 9^th plus” design project (10^9+) is our next challenge.  How can all of the students, staff and faculty work together to design technologies, systems or programs that can positively affect 1 billion people within a decade.

As I mentioned in my opening remarks, SU is special in what and how it teaches.  We have evolved as a species to think “locally” and “linearly” and SU is focused on teaching how to think “globally” and “exponentially.” This is not an institution which seeks to compete with the MITs, Stanfords, or Oxfords of the world, but rather to complement those existing programs in a meaningful and unique fashion.  Most importantly to build a cadre of future leaders who are connected and empowered to take on humanity’s grand challenges in a significant fashion.

For those of you not able to participate in SU this summer, there will be two options for you going forward.  Consider applying for the GSP-2010 program which will take place in late June through August 2010.  Next year we will be accepting ~120 students into the program.  ALSO, for the Executives interested in SU, we will be launching our 3-Day and 10-Day Executive Programs starting this November 2009.  They are limited in size so please let us know of your interest ASAP.

Thank you once again to Google & ePlanet Ventures our two Corporate Founders, and to the 12 Associate Founders for the seed capital required to launch this university.

I’d like to close by saying thank you to our super-star staff and teaching fellows who are working 48×7 to make this program happen.  Special thanks to Susan Fonseca-Klein, Bruce Klein, Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom and our Executive Director, Salim Ismail for all that you are doing.

Best personal regards,
Peter H. Diamandis
Chairman & Vice-Chancellor

RSVP link: http://sugrandchallengesjuly9.eventbrite.com

Exponentially accelerating “grand challenges” will take political power, significant investments, and necessitate the development of equally accelerating technologies to affect the large numbers of people required to make a real difference – locally and globally.

Join some of the world’s leading experts in public health, climate change, energy, and others as they discuss the “grand challenges” in water, health, the environment, and energy, and identify some of the technical and political issues associated with making significant progress in finding immediate and long-term sustainable solutions that can positively affect at least one billion people in the next 10 years.

• Moderator: Mr. Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Writer for The Economist, Author of “Zoom”
• Global Public Health: Dr. Larry Brilliant, Skoll Foundation
• Climate: Dr. Chris Field, Carnegie/Stanford, U.S. Rep to the International Panel on Climate Change, co-author of the IPCC report that won the Nobel Prize with Al Gore
• Water: Ms. Meena Palaniappan, Pacific Institute, Director of their Water Initiative
• Climate: Dr. Bill Collins, Head of the Climate Science Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Energy: Dr. Dan Kammen, Berkeley Institute of the Environment and the IPCC

“Humanity’s Grandest Challenges” is the second in a series of weekly Singularity University presentations open to the public during the course of the 9-week Graduate Summer Program.

Directions:

A valid, government issued ID is required for access to NASA Ames Research Park.

Driving North (or South) on HW 101

1. Exit 398 (Moffett Blvd/NASA Pkwy) off HW 101
2. End of ramp (or loop) turn Right (East) onto Moffett Blvd
3. Straight to NASA Research Park gate (200 yards)
4. Show guard your Drivers License, say you’re going to Building #3
5. Drive straight on Clark Rd (200 yards)
6. Veer Left onto S. Akron Rd (1000 yards)
7. Building #3 is on Left (NASA Ames Conference Center)
8. Park on Right in large parking lot

View Bld 3, NASA Ames in a larger map

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ray Kurzweil visits Google’s Mountain View, CA headquarters to discuss his book “The Web Within Us: When Minds and Machines Become One.” This event took place on July 1, 2009, as part of the Authors@Google series. more >>

Yesterday was the first day of the Singularity University summer session. I was at the NASA Ames campus throughout the day to witness and record the event on video for the Hub (see highlight video footage at the end of this post). The energy at the University is absolutely thrilling. Its hard even to convey in words. Tons of smart, motivated people are gathered to discuss, debate, and learn about the intersection of genetics, solar energy, computer networking, and other accelerating technologies. Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the day was when Ray Kurzweil sat before the students and staff for more than an hour, allowing anyone to ask him questions and share ideas and thoughts. Such an opportunity to interact with the luminary is but a small sample of the rare and stimulating experiences that Singularity University will be able to offer its students this summer.

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INAUGURAL SUMMER PROGRAM AT MOFFETT FIELD

40 Students Chosen from More than 1,200 Candidates to Kick Off Graduate Summer Program

Students Focused on Addressing “Humanity’s Grand Challenges” through Scientific and Technological Collaboration and Innovation

Leading Venture Capital Firm Joins University as Corporate Founder, Key Financial Donor

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – June 25, 2009 – Singularity University (SU) — the new academic institution with the goal of preparing the next generation of leaders to address “humanity’s grand challenges” — today announced the selection of 40 students to represent the inaugural class for the Graduate Summer Program (GSP). Singularity University narrowed the final 40 students from a pool of more than 1,200 candidate applications around the globe. The summer program begins on June 29, 2009, based at its campus on the NASA Ames Research Park.

SU also announced that leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, ePlanet Ventures, joins SU as the newest Corporate Founder to support the institution.

Singularity University is modeled after the successful International Space University, founded at MIT in 1987, which has become one of the leading interdisciplinary, international and intercultural institutions for the study of space. The Graduate Summer Program is a nine-week graduate-level interdisciplinary curriculum designed to facilitate understanding, collaboration, and innovation across a broad range of carefully chosen scientific and technological disciplines whose developments are exponentially accelerating.

A Look at the Summer Class

Students for the inaugural summer program were chosen based on their level of expertise in individual “tracks,” demonstrated entrepreneurial and leadership skills, and their commitment to addressing and solving important issues facing our world.

“The level of interest from candidates around the world exceeded our initial expectations,” said Dr. Ray Kurzweil, co-founder of Singularity University. “We received applications from expert candidates in over 60 countries, so competition was very tough for the 40 open spots. Narrowing the field was challenging. The selected students embody the key characteristics, experience, and ‘start-up mentality’ we believe are required to address our grandest challenges today and tomorrow.”

The summer class is composed of 26 men and 14 women, ranging in age from 22 to 47 years old. The 13 nations represented are: USA, Canada, Israel, United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, India, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, and Russia.

Specific experience and expertise in one of the ten key fields of study, or “tracks,” was required to secure a spot in the inter-disciplinary institution. The number of student experts in each of the ten tracks are: future studies and forecasting – 5; policy, law and ethics – 7; finance and entrepreneurship – 5; networks and computing systems – 6; biotechnology and bioinformatics – 3; nanotechnology – 2; medicine, neuroscience and human enhancement – 4; AI, robotics – 3; energy and ecological systems – 2; and space and physical sciences – 3.

“It’s rare that a new university comes into existence, and we are proud of the students representing this first class,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, co-founder of Singularity University. “Ray Kurzweil and I look forward to seeing what this stellar combination of students and faculty will produce throughout the course of the program. The potential is unlimited. And, we truly believe Singularity University will positively impact humanity.”

Venture Capital Support Behind SU

ePlanet Ventures joins SU as the only venture capital firm at the Corporate Founder level, with a donation of $250,000. In addition to financial support for SU, the firm will mentor students as they develop projects and new business ideas, a partner will serve as an advisor and lecturer on the Finance and Entrepreneurship track, and sit on the Board of Trustees. Google is an existing Corporate Founder.

“The close alignment of our goals with SU made the partnership a natural fit,” said Asad Jamal, Chairman and CEO of ePlanet Ventures. “ePlanet Ventures was founded to support innovation in technology and sciences, and has been a leader in discovering disruptive innovation and promoting cross-border migration of technological innovation, business models and entrepreneurship. We anticipate great ideas and global solutions to come from SU with the expert concentration of students, faculty, and other supporters. We’re thrilled to be a part of this innovative venture from the start.”

Interest in sponsoring Singularity University has been strong since its founding, and nearly all its financial supporting positions have been filled. Three positions are still available to join ePlanet Ventures and Google as Corporate Founders, and SU is in discussions with a number of the Bay Area companies to fill the remaining positions. Please visit the Founders’ Circle for more information on corporate and individual sponsorship.

Looking Forward

Singularity University will offer 3-day “C-level” and 10-day “mid-level” executive management programs in Fall ’09. Exact program dates will be announced later in the year. Interested candidates can submit applications and request additional information at www.singularityu.org/interested

ABOUT SINGULARITY UNIVERSITY

Singularity University (SU) is an interdisciplinary university whose mission is to assemble, educate and inspire a cadre of leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies in order to address humanity’s grand challenges. With the support of a broad range of leaders in academia, business and government, SU hopes to stimulate groundbreaking, disruptive thinking and solutions aimed at solving some of the planet’s most pressing challenges. SU is based at the NASA Ames campus in Silicon Valley. For more information, go to www.singularityu.org.

ABOUT EPLANET VENTURES

ePlanet Ventures is a leading global venture capital firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, with international offices in London, New Delhi, Bangalore, Shanghai, and Beijing, as well as a presence in Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo. ePlanet Ventures has funded over 80 innovative high-growth companies worldwide, including landmark deals Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), Skype (sold to eBay for approx. US$3B in 2005), and Focus Media (NASDAQ:FMCN). ePlanet is one of the leaders in promoting the cross-border migration of technological innovation, business models and entrepreneurship. The Firm has made investments in sectors such as the Internet (consumer Internet, Internet services and applications), wireless communications and applications, VoIP and other broadband services, entertainment, semiconductor design, life sciences and other emerging services sectors. The firm has won the China Venture Capital Association Exit of the Year 2005 for Baidu, and the European Venture Capital Association Deal of the Year 2005 Award for Skype, and has been profiled in FORBES Feb. 2007 as a “Pioneer in Global Venture Capital.” Asad Jamal, Chairman and CEO of ePlanet Ventures was recently profiled in FORBES MIDAS List 2008 as a top 10 venture capitalists in the world.

Singularity University Press Contact

Denise Vardakas
The Conversation Group
denise@theconversationgroup.com
+1-650-483-5083

ePlanet Ventures Press Contact
Rupam Shrivastava
ePlanet Ventures
rupam@eplanetventures.com
+1-408-236-5001

NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., will welcome more than 500 guests, including an international cadre of students and faculty from nearly 40 countries for the International Space University and Singularity University Opening Ceremony on June 29, 2009. The ceremony will be held in the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts and will feature a multimedia celebration of space.

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Singularity University To Launch June 29
Exclusive Interview With Executive Director Salim Ismail
By Keith Kleiner, Singularity Hub

With the official launch of the inaugural summer session of Singularity University just days away, the Hub sat down with the University’s Executive Director Salim Ismail to get an inside look at this exciting event (see video interview at the end of this post). For those who are a little behind on the story, 40 students from across the world have been chosen from a pool of more than 1,000 applicants to participate in the first ever 9 week summer session of Singularity University. The University will bring together some of the top names in genetics, aging, computing, and several other fields. The intent is to focus on the convergence of accelerating technologies and the promise and peril that these technologies hold for the future of mankind. The University is being hosted at the NASA Ames campus in Silicon Valley, and even now students and faculty are beginning to arrive.

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Ray Kurzweil’s latest graphs show that technology’s breakneck advances will only accelerate — recession or not. He unveils his new project, Singularity University, to study oncoming tech and guide it to benefit humanity. More >>