“Helping a Billion People” Began Last Night – Singularity University Opens 4th Summer Program

Singularity University's fourth Graduate Studies Program began last night with excitement and aplomb. SU is the world's premier educational institution in the field of understanding, and harnessing, exponential growth in science and technology. Cofounders Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis, along with Program Director David Roberts, and keynote speaker Julie Hanna of KiVa, welcomed in the SU Class of 2012 with messages about the importance of personal experience, inspiration, creating opportunities, and positive mindset. The Class of 80 participants represents 36 nations from around the world, and Singularity University wants these emerging leaders to improve the lives of one billion people in the next decade. It's a lofty goal, but one that is matched by the talent of SU's participants and faculty, as well as the power of accelerating trends in technology.

The following video gives the highlights of the evening. Full length video of the entire ceremony will be available later from Singularity University and Singularity Hub. (Details will be forthcoming.)

The Graduate Studies Program lasts for ten weeks this Summer, and Singularity Hub will have reporters on campus right up to, and following, the Closing Ceremony in August. Stay tuned for regular updates on SU's amazing faculty, phenomenal participants, and the incredible events they share during this intense educational process. As always, please feel free to request coverage of particular moments or themes and we'll try our best to accommodate the public's interest into this potentially life-changing institution as it rises to take its place on the world stage.