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.
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
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!
Craig Laurie Quarg
Researcher
Craig is a macro social worker and social theorist interested in systems change and participatory governance. He believes that human beings are capable of flourishing together while addressing the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century.
Pierre Vandenberghe
Content marketer
Pierre has a background in marketing and operations. He enjoys writing about rationality, effective altruism, and existential risks. At the Existential Risk Observatory, he advises on social media outreach and digital marketing.
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.
Ruben Dieleman
Outreach
Ruben is an all-round effective altruism expert with a background in political science research, journalism, and entrepreneurship. He wants to generate more attention for existential risk reduction.
Sam Bogerd
Lobbyist
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.
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 are currently looking for:
– An AI Existential Risk Communication intern (job description here).
