The Existential Robotics Study Program is a collaborative effort between NeurSciences, LLC and Dr. Marco Masoni (Director of S.T.E.A.M. and Innovation, The Derryfield School, Manchester, NH, USA). The focus of the program is to solve for X, where X is:

             What if a machine had to find its own destiny?

The amazingly simple question has allowed this program to evolve into a multiyear, interdisciplinary, multi-school program. We have spoken to some educators who felt overwhelmed by the breadth of the program, and others who are eager to run it in their institutions. We have spoken with CEOs and CTOs who felt the open ended question should be more narrowly focused, instead of teaching the participants how to find a problem statement they wish to solve for.

The Existential Robotics Study Program will initially be a 5 week Independent Study Program (ISP) comprised of one or more teams across different disciplines. Each team must identify their own problem statement and the entire ISP effort will be focused on exploring a solution.

In subsequent years, new teams can build off of the prior year effort, or start from the beginning exploring new approaches. This is the way that research is conducted- we stand on the shoulders of the giants before us.

The goal of this trial program is to learn from experience how we can refine and enhance this as a multiyear, interdisciplinary study program to encourage additional schools to participate in the future.