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Contact Information: CONTACT: Robert Marshall University of Advancing Technology 602-383-8205 pressrelease@uat.edu
Futurist Ray Kurzweil Named as 2009 Inductee Into the Leonardo da Vinci Society for the Study of Thinking
| Source: University of Advancing Technology
TEMPE, AZ--(Marketwire - December 9, 2008) - The Leonardo da Vinci Society for the Study of
Thinking has named Ray Kurzweil, renowned technology futurist, inventor and
entrepreneur, as its 2009 inductee. Mr. Kurzweil will appear on campus at
the University of Advancing Technology (UAT) to receive the honor at the Da
Vinci Society's annual luncheon and colloquium.
The Da Vinci Society was founded in 2005 by UAT President Dominic Pistillo
to honor the world's leading thinkers. The annual invitation-only event
will feature a keynote address from Mr. Kurzweil to an audience of
Arizona's key leaders in the fields of education, government and business
on Friday, May 1st, 2009. Kurzweil will be involved in events leading up to
the luncheon, including guest speaking at UAT's annual commencement
ceremony and an on-campus book signing event that will be open to the
public.
A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and member of
the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Ray Kurzweil is one of the world's
leading futurists and technological visionaries. During his career as an
inventor and entrepreneur, Kurzweil developed numerous groundbreaking
technology systems, including an assistive reading device for the blind,
speech recognition technology, a music synthesizer and investment software.
Kurzweil is also the recipient of numerous honorary doctorate degrees and
awards, including the National Medal of Technology, the Dickson Prize in
Science, and the Lemelson-MIT Prize.
In "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and "The Singularity Is Near," Kurzweil
expounds on his theory that the world will soon undergo a world-changing
Singularity in which artificial intelligence will surpass human
intelligence, leading to an awakening in the universe and a new type of
humanity that is integrated with machines. Kurzweil is also a leading
proponent of human longevity and nanotechnology.
UAT is a leading innovator in education focused on new and emerging
technologies. According to Pistillo, "At UAT we strive not only to provide
an enriching educational environment, but to raise the bar with innovation,
systems thinking and programming that will carry us through the 21st
century. In that regard, we are honored to be able to present such a
distinguished thinker as Ray Kurzweil with the Da Vinci Medallion." Other
thinkers honored by the Da Vinci Society include renowned physicist Michio
Kaku, systems theorists Dr. Margaret Wheatley and Dr. Fritjof Capra, and
the society's honorary chair, Dr. Edward de Bono.
About UAT: The University of Advancing Technology is a unique, private
college that serves its student body by fostering knowledge creation and
academic excellence in an environment that embraces the young technophiles
of the world. With three centers of research and a suite of
technology-centered undergraduate and graduate degrees, the University is a
recognized leader in technology education.