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06/08/12 | Uncategorized

Preparing Humanity For Accelerating Technological Change – Singularity University

Help me learn from the best and change the world at NASA this summer – rally with me!

By Bogdana Rakova (Computer Science Student, University of Sofia “St. Kliment Ohridski)

How to answer the grand challenges of our time and positively impact the lives of a billion people? This is the big question ahead of a group of 80 amazing leaders from all around the world. They are all going to join forces with the most accomplished experts in academics, business, and government in search of how we can leverage exponential technologies in solving real world problems.

This is an intense 10 weeks experience – the Singularity University Graduate Studies Program. Founded by Peter Diamandis and Ray Kurzweil, Singularity University is a non-profit organisation working to educate and inspire leaders to apply accelerating technologies to address global challenges.

I was accepted to Singularity University this summer!

It starts in one week on June 16 and will take place in Silicon Valley – at NASA Research park. NASA and Google have backed up the whole program and have made it possible for the top graduate and post graduate students and entrepreneurial leaders from around the globe to join this immense exponential technologies experience.

I am Bogdana Rakova and I am proud to be one of the few that have this amazing opportunity to learn more about some of the most exciting fields of science like AI and Robotics, Synthetic biology, Space and Physical science.

There are many successful projects that have developed into companies with the help of Singularity University. Let’s see a few examples.

  • The Genome Compiler – it is built on the idea that biology is information technology. Just like another information technology – genetic engineers also need tools to design, debug and compile their code: A genome compiler.
  • What about the Elegs – developing professional exoskeletons that help people rethink current physical limitations and achieve the remarkable. Check out this video.
  • Imagine a formation of AI drones that can cooperate in order to help people living in developing areas. This is the goal of Matternet – creating a new paradigm for transportation using a network of unmanned aerial vehicles.
  • Another example is the team at Senstore has been devoted to building a hand-held device that diagnoses disease, independently of healthcare personnel or infrastructure.

These are only a few of the many examples out there and they are a great prove of the words of Aaron Frank: “The powers of exponentially growing technologies in our world are extraordinary. Never before have motivated individuals had access to the resources to impact the lives of billions. The tools of creativity, innovation, and disruptive change are now available to small teams of those willing to solve Humanity’s Grand Challenges.” Aaron is a Business Development Manager at Singularity University and is very passionate about the program and the social movement it creates.

Looking back to the grand question – “How to answer the challenges of our time and positively impact the lives of a billion people? ” we see that there are plenty of possibilities. For me the answer is – through believing in yourself, sharing your passion, leveraging the exponential technologies, working together as a team and making things happen one little step at a time.

Support My Silicon Valley Trip

Please support me in my quest to join Singularity University this summer and donate $2 here.

Thank you so much! It’s worth it one thousand times. I’ll keep you updated with everything that goes on in Silicon Valley during the program by sending you a weekly newsletter including all the details!

Editor’s note: Got a question for our guest blogger? Leave a message in the comments below.

Pictured above: Bogdana Rakova helped build a real AI robot for her final project in a university course.. The open source project can be found at CodePlex.

About the guest blogger: Bogdana Rakova is software developer at Completit, bringing microcontrollers to the everyday people with a Lego-style way of working with real world embedded devices. She was a finalist in the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition for an interactive app teaching people about environmental sustainability. Bogdana’s current project is Graboo, helping you pay attention to nutrition products consumed and how they affect your health. She is currently a computer science student in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Anne-Gail Moreland

Anne-Gail Moreland

Anne-Gail Moreland, an intern with Women 2.0, was on the StartupBus. She studies neuroscience at Mount Holyoke College, where she is trying to merge a passion for tech and the brain into a new wave of cognition-based technology

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