About me

Posted 15th September, 2007 in by Federico Pistono

Have a look at my Wikipedia page.

Formal presentation

Federico Pistono is an award-winning journalist, social entrepreneur, scientific educator, activist, and aspiring filmmaker. He is author of the book Robots Will Steal Your Job, but that's OK: How to Survive the Economic Collapse and be Happy and the Sci-Fi Novelette "A tale of Two Futures." Federico Pistono profile picture

He routinely tours around the world, lecturing at TEDx events, conferences, universities, and symposia; such as TEDxVienna, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Porto Alegre, Cologne, Vancouver, TEDxBologna, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He was interviewed by several newspapers, radios, TVs, and magazines; among which The Huffington Post, Forbes magazine, Folha de S. Paulo (the most influential newspaper in Brazil), RAI Italian National TV, and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies.

Federico has written several articles for newspapers and blogs regarding a variety of topics, from science, technology, Internet communities and social media, artificial intelligence, climate change, technological unemployment and the future of society. He hosted hundreds of hours of podcasts covering the impact of technology in society, activism, as well as science-related news.

At the age of 16 he was awarded a full scholarship for the prestigious United World College of the Adriatic, he then received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Verona. He continued his studies by completing the online course at Stanford of Machine Learning; and in 2012 he graduated with full scholarship from Singularity University, NASA Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley, whose studies included Synthetic Biology, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Nanotechnology and Digital Fabrication, Energy and Environmental Systems, Space and Physical Sciences, Design, Future Studies and Forecasting, Policy, Law and Ethics.

Feel free to google him for more information.

Honors and Awards

  • 2012: Awarded the Young Italian Knights Award for his outstanding achievements and Social Impact
  • 2012: Awarded Full Scholarship for the Graduate Study Program at Singularity University, NASA Ames Search Park, Silicon Valley.
  • 2009: Winner of the International Journalism Competition on Climate Change for the COP15, European Journalism Centre.
  • 2007: Winner of the "Linux-Mega-Quiz" at LinuxTag, 2007.
  • 2004: Awarded Full Scholarship for the UWC (United World Colleges) Baccalaureate Programme

Articles I wrote

Citations on Papers and Publications

Articles about me and interviews

My life - an infographic

Tired of boring text and resumes? Try this infographic.

Biography, Work and Education

Federico Pistono is a scientific educator, social activist, computer scientist, blogger, media expert, and aspiring filmmaker. In 2002, at age 16, he won a scholarship to UWCAD International College, where he received an education aimed on the sharing of ideas amongst different cultures, living away from home along with 200 students from 82 countries.

In 2007 he founded the "Grilli Biellesi", a non-profit volunteer association with civic engagement and the protection of the rights of citizens whose topics of interest are energy, information, waste, connectivity and protection of water as a right to life.

From 2008 to 2012 he worked in a media company in Verona, as Project Manager, Media Strategist, Developer, Screenwriter, and Director, focusing on new media and the role of technology in the society.

In 2009 he received his degree in computer science from the University of Verona, Department of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences, with a thesis on "Open Source Implementations of Encoding Algorithms for Video Distribution in the HTML5 Era”.

In 2009 he also won an international competition for blogging and journalism organized by the European Centre for Journalism and was sent to the COP15 in Copenhagen to cover the events on the conference on climate.

On May 2009, he founded The Zeitgeist Movement Italy, a global Sustainability Advocacy Organization which conducts community based activism and awareness actions through a network of Global/Regional Chapters, Project Teams, Annual Events, Media and Charity Work to promote a shift towards a Resource Based Economic model, where the solutions arrived at and promoted are in the interest to help everyone on the planet Earth, not a select group. He held the position of national coordinator and spokesperson for about three years -- until January 2012.

On October 2011 he started writing his first book, "Robots will steal your job, but that's OK: how to survive the economic collapse and be happy "

In 2012 he won a scholarship for the Graduate Studies Program at Singularity University, NASA Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley. Singularity University is a unique interdisciplinary, international and intercultural experience, whose aim is to assemble, educate and inspire a cadre of leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies and apply, focus and guide these tools to address humanity’s grand challenges.