New CESR Director Welcomed at New York City Reception

 
When Professor Sonja Amadae was a child, she learned about the Doomsday Clock. This symbol representing the estimated likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe, began for her what has been a lifelong fascination with existential risk. Her career as a scientist focused on nuclear war and security, climate change and collective action, and AI and related social justice issues. Her path led her to Cambridge where she is now the Director of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER). 

To honor and welcome her, philanthropist Carl Feinberg hosted a reception for the Cambridge community and friends in his Manhattan home. Feinberg too shares a keen interest in CSER’s work and believes in the value of basic research to mitigate the existential risks threatening the world from climate change, potential dangers from AI, and known and unknown diseases. 

Professor Lord Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal and one of Cambridge’s most distinguished scientists, joined the event on Zoom. Lord Rees spoke about the mission of CSER, noting catastrophic risks to people and the planet have grown in number and severity over the past several decades, largely due to human inaction. 

As the director of CSER, Amadae oversees a team of researchers looking at extreme catastrophes from climate change to bio threats to technological malfeasance and AI to injustice across the globe. In addition to deep and broad research to assess risk and how to mitigate it, CSER also serves as a convener and knowledge broker, advising the UK government and NGOs on policies and actions they can take in the here and now. 

“We are at a critical junction, and now is the time for CSER to have global reach,” said Amadae. Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice, also in attendance, noted that “CSER is a brilliant jewel, and it could only happen at Cambridge, because the University allows people to follow their passion wherever it might lead.” 

“The importance of philanthropy to CSER cannot be overstated,” Feinberg said. “I support CSER because we are in a very uncertain time,” he noted, “and I regard support for CSER as an investment in civilization.”

Learn more about CSER’s work at their website and click here to make a gift to CSER.