Mountain View, California/Miami – March 16, 2017 – Singularity University today announced the 2017 Global Impact Challenge in Miami, seeking solutions that address climate change in South Florida. Previously hosted in Miami in 2015, the challenge is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Singularity University (SU) is a global community with a mission to educate, inspire and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies to address humanity’s grand challenges. Its Miami Global Impact Challenge invites individuals from any technology or science discipline to submit moonshot ideas that address solutions to climate change in South Florida.
“This year, we are looking for applicants who have the skills and passion to develop big ideas to help solve climate-related challenges in South Florida, including ideas ripe for innovation, such as sea level rise, extreme flooding and other vulnerabilities to civic strategies of awareness, education and resiliency,” said Regina Njima, Director, Singularity University Global Impact Challenges.
The Singularity University Global Impact Challenge is open to all U.S. residents and citizens over the age of 21. Applications can be submitted through April 16, 2017. Winner(s) will receive a full sponsorship to attend Singularity’s Global Solutions Program held June 17 – Aug. 17, 2017, in Silicon Valley, California. Finalists will also benefit from the challenge by association with Singularity University and their community network of mentors and technology labs.
“With Knight Foundation support Singularity University is working to inspire solutions to the critical concerns of climate change, which will be our theme for the 2017 Global Solutions Program,” said Rob Nail, CEO and associate founder of Singularity University. “We look forward to these winners joining a highly diverse and global group of talented individuals who participate in our nine-week Global Solutions Program, where core curriculum is structured to provide a broad, cross-disciplinary understanding of the biggest ideas and issues in disruptive technologies. Our goal is to empower these individuals with the tools, knowledge, skills, and mindset for delivering real humanitarian impact at multiple levels.”
“Through the Global Impact Challenge, Singularity University is helping to bring fresh ideas to Miami and providing a new generation of problem solvers the opportunity to make their ideas a reality for our city and the world,” said Matt Haggman, Knight Foundation program director for Miami.
“The Singularity University Global Solutions Program changed my life,” said Ana Cecilia Benatuil, Global Solutions 2015 participant and Singularity University Miami Global Impact Challenge organizer. “It was a surreal experience to meet so many talented people from across the globe and share with them the desire and determination to make a difference in the world. I am honored to be helping solve a critical concern for South Florida, while providing this incredible experience to other aspiring entrepreneurs.”
Global Impact Challenges serve as a platform to identify promising innovators and then connect them and their ideas to a larger circle of mentorship. Hosted around the world by Singularity University, in partnership with alumni and local sponsors, Global Impact Challenges are calls for innovations to solve significant challenges within local communities. Winners of each challenge are awarded full sponsorships to attend Singularity University’s nine-week Global Solutions Program.
More information on the Singularity Global Impact Challenge in Miami can be found at: https://su.org/gic/2017/miami/
ABOUT SINGULARITY UNIVERSITY (SU)
Singularity University is a global learning and innovation community using exponential technologies to tackle the world’s biggest challenges and build an abundant future for all. SU’s collaborative platform empowers individuals and organizations across the globe to learn, connect, and innovate breakthrough solutions using accelerating technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital biology. SU was founded in 2008 by renowned innovators Ray Kurzweil and Peter H. Diamandis and is partnered with leading organizations including Google, Deloitte, Genentech, and UNICEF. To learn more, visit SU.org, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @SingularityU.
ABOUT GLOBAL IMPACT CHALLENGES
Global Impact Challenges (GICs) are annual competitions created by Singularity University and held in partnership with sponsor organizations worldwide to find solutions to global grand challenges. GICs serve as a platform to identify outstanding entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists, and engineers with the most innovative ideas for positively impacting millions of lives locally and globally within the next 3-5 years. Since 2010, Singularity University has worked with partners to host 94 Global Impact Challenges in 38 countries, awarding 121 winners with fully sponsored seats at the Singularity University’s Global Solutions Program (GSP) in Silicon Valley.
ABOUT THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.
Contacts:
Diane Murphy, Corporate Communications, Singularity University, 310-658-8756, [email protected]
Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 305-908-2646, [email protected]