In what’s being heralded as a global coup, the University of Technology, Sydney has successfully secured the services of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniack as an adjunct professor.
The man who famously co-invented the first Apple Computer with the late Steve Jobs in 1976, creating the brand that ultimately wound up revolutionising the computing and entertainment industries in the process, has taken on the role at UTS and will be focusing on the facility’s “Magic Lab” – a centre for innovation and enterprise research, which focuses on robotics and artificial intelligence.
The school, understandably, is pretty dang stoked. UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor Glenn Wightwick stated, “It’s hard to imagine a more iconic mentor for UTS students than one of the most influential technology pioneers of the modern era.“
Whilst lab director Mary-Ann Williams is so chuffed she’s already resorted to nicknames, “Woz loves the energy, the vibe and the robots in the Magic Lab. The students have been totally wowed by the attention he has given them, one claiming he had changed her life in less than 60 seconds.“
I mean, “Woz”? Come on. That’s adorable!
The position is the first offer Wozniak has taken up from any University in the world, and in his capacity as an adjunct professor he’ll spend up to three periods a year physically teaching at the lab, but will maintain contact with students and research groups remotely.
The Woz has long spoken of his fondness for Australia, revealing to Gizmodo that, as of 2012, he’s been in the process of becoming an Australian citizen.
If you’re keen on studying the areas of robotics or artificial intelligence and the idea of being mentored and learning from one of the most iconic computer developers in modern history sounds appealing, you’ve struck gold. Our new mate Woz officially takes up his post at UTS in December.
Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt via Getty Images.
via SMH.
