Our approach

Extinction risks are uniquely universal. Literally each human being, both currently alive and yet unborn, has an equal stake in our survival. Therefore, we believe everyone should work together to reduce existential risk. We are therefore open to knowledge sharing and collaboration with a broad range of institutes and actors, located anywhere in the world.

Statements

“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. BergstraMAE

“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.

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.

Francesca Fleurbaay

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!

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 touch

Press

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 touch

Careers

At this moment, we do not have any vacancies. However, you can always approach us for an introductory conversation. We want to provide internship opportunities for motivated and talented individuals. We are also generally interested in outreach and media expertise.