NASA, Kurzweil Open Singularity UniversityNASA, Kurzweil Open Singularity University

NASA has announced plans to host a new university for studies that focus on solving humanity's greatest challenges.

Singularity University will open its doors in June at Ames Research Center's Moffett Field in California. NASA is leasing the space in its research park for a nine-week graduate studies program and three-day programs for CEOs and managers.

Author and futurist Ray Kurzweil, Ames director Pete Worden, X Prize foundation chairman Peter Diamandis, International Space University founder Robert Richards, and International Space University president Michael Simpson founded the university, which also launched a Web site this week.

"With its strong focus on interdisciplinary learning, Singularity University is poised to foster the leaders who will create a uniquely creative and productive future world," Kurzweil said in a statement released Tuesday.

Its curriculum will provide interdisciplinary exposure to 10 fields: future studies and forecasting; networks and computing systems; biotechnology and bioinformatics; nanotechnology; medicine, neuroscience, and human enhancement; artificial intelligence, robotics, and cognitive computing; energy and ecological systems; space and physical sciences; policy, law, and ethics; and finance and entrepreneurship.

"The NASA Ames campus has a proud history of supporting ground-breaking innovation, and Singularity University fits into that tradition," Worden said in a statement. "We're proud to help launch this unique graduate university program and are looking forward to the new ideas, technologies, and social applications that result."

Salim Ismail, former Yahoo VP and head of Brickhouse, will serve as executive director. Ismail has also worked as a developer, manager, and consultant.

Google is also supporting the venture.