High Hopes
To: Joyce Jamison
From: Oxford University — Department of Astrophysics
Archive Date: 2021-06-16T11:11:11.111Z
Dear Ms. Jamison,
Thank you for your application to the Doctoral Programme in Astrophysics and Computer Science. While your proposal, The Design and Construction of an Interstellar Capable Machine Intelligence, is thought-provoking, the selection committee has determined that it does not align with the department’s current research priorities.
Given the speculative nature of your project and the resources we believe it would require, we regret to inform you that we are unable to support your candidacy at this time. We encourage you to explore alternative avenues for your research and wish you the best in your academic endeavours.
Sincerely,
Dr. Hugh Ainsworth
Director of Graduate Admissions
To: Joyce Jamison
From: University of Cambridge - Faculty of Mathematics & Computer Science
Archive Date: 2021-06-16T11:11:11.111Z
Dear Ms. Jamison,
We appreciate your interest in pursuing doctoral studies at Cambridge and acknowledge the originality of your proposed research, Interstellar Societies of Mind. After careful review, the committee has concluded that your project does not align with our institutional focus on demonstrable, peer-validated methodologies and practical applications in the field.
Additionally, the ethical and technical considerations surrounding artificial intelligence in general give us legal concerns we do not believe your proposal has fully explored. Given these factors, we must decline your application at this time.
We thank you for your submission and wish you success in your future research.
Best regards,
Prof. Emily Harcourt
Graduate Admissions Committee