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Foresight Institute Radio

Existential Hope Podcast: David Leigh | Exploring the possibilities of nanotechnology

Season 2, Ep. 9

David Leigh is a scientist who designs and synthesizes artificial molecular motors and machines from first principles.

In this episode, we sit down with special guest David Leigh, a molecular scientist at the University of Manchester and a pioneer in the field of Nanotechnology. David shares his journey in the field, from his expertise to his time mentoring junior scientists. He also shares his vision of existential hope, given the trajectory our society is taking and all the possibilities that can come from emerging nanotechnological findings.

Full transcript, list of resources, and art piece: David Leigh | Exploring the possibilities of nanotechnology

Existential Hope was created to collect positive and possible scenarios for the future, so that we can have more people commit to the creation of a brighter future, and start mapping out the main developments and challenges that need to be navigated to reach it. Find all previous podcast episodes here.

The Foresight Institute is a research organization and non-profit that supports the beneficial development of high-impact technologies. Since our founding in 1987 on a vision of guiding powerful technologies, we have continued to evolve into a many-armed organization that focuses on several fields of science and technology that are too ambitious for legacy institutions to support.

Allison Duettmann is the president and CEO of Foresight Institute. She directs the Intelligent Cooperation, Molecular Machines, Biotech & Health Extension, Neurotech, and Space Programs, Fellowships, Prizes, and Tech Trees, and shares this work with the public. She founded Existentialhope.com, co-edited Superintelligence: Coordination & Strategy, co-authored Gaming the Future, and co-initiated The Longevity Prize.

Beatrice Erkers is Chief of Operations at Foresight Institute, and program manager of the Existential Hope group. She has a background in publishing and has several years of experience working with communication at Foresight and at a publishing house.

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