XI NIS International Research-to-Practice Conference
Inspirational Speakers
International Speakers
Rick Sommer
Director of Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, USA
Rick Sommer, PhD, is currently Executive Director of Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, and Lecturer in Mathematics and Philosophy, at Stanford University. Dr. Sommer received his doctoral degree in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1990, and after which he began his long career at Stanford University, first as Gabor Szego Assistant Professor of Mathematics. In 1995, Dr. Sommer helped launch the Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) for which he continues to serve as Director and Lecturer, leading SUMaC to its standing as a preeminent university-based mathematics program for high school students. In 1996, Dr. Sommer became involved in developing online courses for Stanford’s Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY), using innovative technology to provide unique educational opportunities to gifted and talented students worldwide. As Deputy Director of EPGY, Dr. Sommer led the design and launch of the EPGY Summer Institutes (now the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes). In 2012, EPGY transformed into Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, providing a platform for Dr. Sommer to lead the creation of several new programs including the Pre-Collegiate International Institutes and the Summer Humanities and Arts Institutes, as well as the expansion of the Math, Science and Humanities Circles. Now as Executive Director of Pre-Collegiate Studies, Dr. Sommer oversees the Stanford Online High School together with a broad spectrum of programs, and he serves to innovate new academic programming for high school students, online, on the Stanford campus and at locations around the world. Dr. Sommer is co-founder and board member of AI4ALL, a national non-profit that promotes human-centered Artificial Intelligence and supports diversity in the field of AI. Additionally, Dr. Sommer teaches courses in Mathematical Logic and Set Theory and contributes at Stanford in a range of advising roles.