Peter Singer is one of the world’s most influential philosophers. He has been professor of bioethics at Princeton University since 1999. His many books include Animal Liberation (1975) – often credited for triggering the modern animal rights movement – Practical Ethics, The Life You Can Save, The Most Good You Can Do, and Ethics in the Real World. His recent books include Animal Liberation Now (2023) and Consider the Turkey (2024). His writings have inspired the movement known as effective altruism, and he is the founder of the charity The Life You Can Save. In 2021 he was awarded the $1 million Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, which he donated to nonprofit organizations working for the causes he supports. In 2023 he received the Frontiers of Knowledge Prize for the Humanities, from the Spanish BBVA Foundation. Peter will give two presentations during the trip – one on animal liberation and one on effective altruism. Both will relate to improving the lot for all sentient beings on earth.

Cyan Banister is addicted to early-stage angel investing and co-founder and General Partner at Long Journey Ventures. Homeless as a teenager, she rose to become one of the most successful venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, with first stage investments in companies such as Uber, Spacex and Niantic (makers of Pokemon GO). She spends much time dreaming about what the future could look like and investing in magically weird people who do the same and are creating it. Previously she was at Founders Fund, a top-tier fund in San Francisco, CA. Her most successful investments have a common theme around job creation and flexibility, but she has invested in everything from rocket ships to sandwich delivery. She has appeared on television and radio, and features on numerous podcasts, including a recent interview with Timothy Ferris and an upcoming episode of The Origins Podcast. She invests to increase global good and happiness, and will speak on this subject during the trip.

Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek is a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Lodz, Poland. She is a hedonistic utilitarian. Her main research interests focus on the philosophy of Henry Sidgwick, the concept of wellbeing, and pleasure. She coauthored two books with Peter Singer – The Point of View of the Universe (2014) and Utilitarianism A Very Short Introduction (2017) – and edited J.S. Mill’s Utilitarianism (2021). Her latest book is The Philosophy of Pleasure. Apart from academic work, she is keen to convey philosophical ideas to a popular audience, and has written magazine articles on how to live a good life. Katarzyna will talk about the many aspects of happiness – a very relevant topic for our Bhutan Experience.

Lawrence Krauss is a theoretical physicist and author. He is president of The Origins Project Foundation, and host of The Origins Podcast. His research interests include the origin and evolution of the universe and the structure of matter. He founded and directed The Origins Project at ASU 2008-2018, and has held distinguished positions at other universities and research institutions in America, Canada, Switzerland, Australia and Britain. He has written over 600 publications and 12 books. His latest book, The Edge of Knowledge, was released in May 2023. He has written for magazines and newspapers, appears on radio and television, and has received many awards for his scientific work and his contributions to the public understanding of science around the world. He will give two lectures during the trip – one on the physics and biology of altitude, and the other on how mysteries make life interesting – the latter loosely based on his most recent book. Both will emphasize how exploring the universe impacts on human satisfaction and happiness.