The publication of the 2016 volume Here Be Dragons shifted the focus of Swedish mathematician Olle Häggström from strictly technical problems to the broader risks posed by emerging technological systems. His career, centered at Chalmers University of Technology, has bridged the gap between pure mathematical statistics and the public discourse surrounding existential threats to humanity.
Academic Trajectory
Born in 1967, Häggström completed his doctorate in 1994 at Chalmers University of Technology under the supervision of Jeffrey Steif. He progressed to an associate professorship at the same institution in 1997. In 2000, he moved to the University of Gothenburg to serve as a professor of mathematical statistics before returning to Chalmers in 2002 to hold the same title. His research interests primarily reside in probability theory, specifically focusing on Markov chains, percolation theory, and statistical mechanics.
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The mathematical community recognized Häggström’s contributions through several awards early in his career. He received the Wallenberg Prize in 1999, followed by the Rollo Davidson Prize in 2005. The following year, he was awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize for mathematics. His institutional standing was solidified through his election as member 1506 of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 2004 and as member 1581 of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in 2010. He is also a member of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg.
Technological Risks and Future Outlook
In his 2016 Oxford University Press book, Häggström outlined potential dangers inherent in scientific progress. He evaluated several high-stakes scenarios, including the risk of geoengineering through atmospheric sulfur dioxide injection and the geopolitical volatility caused by cognitive enhancement. His work also scrutinizes the development of advanced artificial intelligence and the potential destabilization caused by self-replicating nanobots. Furthermore, he has expressed skepticism toward active attempts to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligence, labeling such endeavors as reckless given the existential risks involved.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967
- Citizenship: Sweden
- Doctorate: 1994, Chalmers University of Technology
- Award: Wallenberg Prize (1999)
- Award: Rollo Davidson Prize (2005)
- Award: Göran Gustafsson Prize (2006)
- Member: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Member: Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
Questions readers ask
What subjects does Olle Häggström research?
He specializes in mathematical statistics, with a focus on probability theory, Markov chains, and percolation theory.
What is the focus of his book Here Be Dragons?
The book explores potential existential risks to humanity stemming from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, nanobots, and geoengineering.
Achievements
- Wallenberg Prize — 1999
- Göran Gustafsson Prize for mathematics — 2006
- Rollo Davidson Prize — 2005
- Held posts at Chalmers University of Technology
- Fields: mathematical statistics
