New world order

Google, NASA and a number of other science and tech giants are combining forces to start a school, Singularity University. Its objective will be to solve "humanity's grand challenges" — a manifesto reminiscent of the ambitious one Ezra Cornell posed for Cornell University: "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study."

Taking after the International Space University, the school avails a number of cutting-edge technology and research to hard-working grad students and professionals from around the world. Topics shall include networking, bioinformatics, genetics, law, health and entrepreneurship.

The initial three weeks of sessions will be dedicated to forming a basic foundation in all the fields. For the three weeks thereafter, students will examine how the fields can intermingle. The last three weeks will be spent applying the knowledge to real-world problems.

Singularity University was founded by Dr. Ray Kurzweil (author, technologist, and futurist), Dr. Peter Diamandis (XPRIZE), Pete Worden (Director of NASA Ames), Dr. Robert Richards (co-founder of the International Space University), Dr. Robert Richards (ISU President), Dr. Michael Simpson, and a number of sponsors — including Google, TechCrunch reports. Founder Salim Ismail of Yahoo's Brickhouse will operate the institution.

Sessions will be held at NASA Ames Research Campus near Mountain View. The premier class will consist of 30 students, with about 100 expected for the school's second year. Fees are expected to be around $25,000 per student, and a less intensive workload is available to students in the workforce.