Kurzweil + Google = Learnin'

Ever wonder what would happen if the world’s top minds came together to establish a university? It’s time to find out. NASA and Google have teamed up with leading science and technology entrepreneurs to open Singularity University (SU), a school devoted to fostering collaboration and innovation “in order to address humanity’s grand challenges.”

Housed on the NASA Ames campus in Silicon Valley, the university will open in June 2009 and offer a nine-week graduate level program along with several executive level programs aimed at helping current leaders adapt their businesses to up-and-coming technologies. SU’s founders include Pete Worden, the director of NASA Ames, Dr. Ray Kurzweil, distinguished author and futurist and Dr. Peter Diamandis, chairman of the X Prize Foundation.

Besides its cool name, (which scientifically refers to the ultra-compressed center of a black hole, but in this case, a period of rapid technological progress) what makes SU different from other top institutions? Instead of seeking to become the forerunner of a single discipline, the university is looking to compliment existing programs in a variety of subjects including biotechnology, AI, robotics, law, ethics and finance. The main goal is to gather “the next generation of CEOs, University Deans/Presidents and Government leaders” to begin networking and collaborating. It’s like putting all the future power holders in one room and giving them a jump-start on solving the world’s problems.

So, looking to become the leader of the world’s next multibillion-dollar company? You might want to enroll. Better hurry though; class sizes are limited to 30 students for the first year. And if you don't make the cut, never fear. The University's body of materials is going to be available through a Creative Commons License. Now hit the books Web!