Our approach
Endorsements
“Existential risk reduction is among humanity’s most important and urgent challenges today. Unfortunately, it is also among the most neglected. So, I fully support the Existential Risk Observatory’s important mission.”
Andreas T. SchmidtAssociate Professor of Political Philosophy, University of Groningen
“Artificial general intelligence is an existential risk for humanity.”
Jan A. BergstraProfessor emeritus of Computer Science
“We humans often worry about the wrong things. The Existential Risk Observatory wants to help us have the right priorities and focus on what is really dangerous, potentially even threatening the very existence of human civilization. It is a message that I approve of.”
Simon FriederichAssociate Professor of Philosophy of Science, University of Groningen
Team
Otto Barten
Director
Otto is a sustainable energy engineer, data scientist, and entrepreneur. When he realized that existential risks are even more important than climate, he started the Existential Risk Observatory.
Joep Sauren
Treasurer
Joep is an Industry 4.0 specialist and Managing Partner at Syndustry. As treasurer of the Existential Risk Observatory he keeps the foundation effectively organised and accounted.
Alexia Georgiadis
Researcher
Alexia has a background in political and economic sciences with a focus on governance and development. She is responsible for research on the effectiveness of communicating existential risk.
Marko van der Wal
Secretary
Marko has a degree in Classics. He is currently working as an editor at a publishing house and at a literary magazine, and is active as translator and (occasional) writer. Marko is part of the board.
Ruben Dieleman
Outreach
Ruben is an effective altruism expert with a background in political science, journalism, and entrepreneurship. He wants to generate attention for existential risk reduction.
Sam Bogerd
Public Affairs
Sam is a Dutch civil servant and has a strong background in political science. He helps to put structured existential risk reduction on the political agenda in The Netherlands.
Eefje van Esch
Campaigner
Eefje has extensive experience in campaigning and lobbying on global poverty issues. She helps with everything around campaigns and events, and does the social media.
Graduates
Ben Bucknall
Researcher
Ben has a background in pure mathematics and is now interested in how mathematical and computational models can be used to further our understanding of existential risks. At the observatory he is responsible for ensuring that the information given is reliable and up-to-date.
Holly Warner
Researcher
Holly has a research background in social anthropology and is a postdoctoral qualitative researcher with a focus on technological futures and mediation. At the observatory she is researching emerging technologies and working on AI governance policy proposals.
Kali Richards
Media and Fundraising
Kali is a student of political science interested in effective altruism and policy focused on the long-term benefit of humanity. At the observatory she is responsible for media and fundraising outreach.
Francesca Fleurbaay
Conference organizer
Francesca has a background in psychology (University College Groningen) and is responsible for the organization of the Existential Risk Conference. She is excited to spread awareness about existential risk!
Our partners
Contact us
Contact us
We are open to working together towards the common goal of decreasing existential risk. Please reach out to us. If you share our vision and want to support us, you can also use this address to get in touch.
Get in touchPress
Part of our mission is to inform the debate on existential risk. We will therefore prioritize interviews and information requests from the press.
Get in touchThe Existential Risk Observatory is a foundation under Dutch law (stichting). Our address is:
Havikslaan 8A
1021 EK Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Our tax exempt status (ANBI) data can be found here.
Careers
We do not have any regular positions at this moment. For volunteering, please see the information under Support us.
Support us
Volunteer
Do you have an interest in supporting us with your time? Send an email and let us know what you are keen to do and what skills you like to develop at the Observatory. You can also organize your own event around existential risks! Feel free to send us a message, or download our Events Guide below.
Download Event GuideDonate
As opposed to research, existential risk awareness building is funding-constrained. With additional funding, we could operate in more countries, organize more and better events, and do more research investigating the effects of our interventions.
We are sincerely happy with all support, both large and small!
