Feb 11 2009
The Foresight Institute has appointed Dr. J. Storrs Hall to the position of President. Dr. Hall brings to the organization his extensive experience in prediction, invention, and development of future technologies. Prior to joining Foresight, he was a researcher at Rutgers University, a research fellow of the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, and the founding chief scientist of Nanorex, Inc.
Dr. Hall is a prolific writer on nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, machine ethics, and other social impacts of technology. He is actively sought out to speak about and be interviewed on diverse future technology-related topics, appearing for example in the movie "The Singularity is Near". He has over 30 years research experience in academia and industry. Dr. Hall holds a Ph.D. and a Masters degree in Computer Science from Rutgers University, and a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Drew University.
The Foresight Institute was founded in 1986 to educate the public about nanotechnology. The Institute's 1st Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology preceded the signing of the National Nanotechnology Initiative by 10 years. The prestigious Foresight Institute Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology has honored top nanotechnology research scientists since 1993.
"With Dr. Hall's expertise, Foresight's range can broaden to include a wider variety of coming technologies," said Christine Peterson, Founder and former President of Foresight Institute. "His integrated vision of how nanotech interacts with other advanced fields will enable us to more effectively promote technology's benefits and head off potential downsides." Peterson will remain with the organization as Vice President.