The risk of human extinction within this century has been estimated at one in six , according to recent research from Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute. This likelihood is unacceptably high. An important first step towards decreasing this risk is to improve public awareness and understanding of the nature of these risks.

That was the thought which, in early 2021, motivated a group of researchers, entrepreneurs, analysts, engineers, social activists, and consultants, based in Holland, to create the Existential Risk Observatory. They describe their mission as follows:

Since the sources of existential risk are mostly man-made, humanity has the power to reduce its own extinction risk. We must do so now.

At the Existential Risk Observatory, we believe that being aware of a problem is the first step towards solving it. Our mission is therefore to:

1. Increase existential risk awareness
2. Collect existential risk information
3. Spread existential risk information from academia to academia, think tanks, policy makers, and media.

See https://www.existentialriskobservatory.org/

At this London Futurists webinar, we will be joined by Otto Barten, Director of the Observatory. Otto will be reviewing the landscape of existential risks, the progress and plans of the Observatory, and practical opportunities for partnerships.