Mars Research
The next phase of the Creative AI school at Mars College
Mars Research is a new camp being established this upcoming season at Mars College, which will carry on the torch of the Creative AI program of the last three years. The camp will host a select group of residents on-site at Mars, and organize an academic module for Martians to harness the potential of the world’s most hyped technology.
Why Mars Research?
We believe that AI is a transformative tool for lifestyle engineering. Whereas most AI education aims to export students into industry and academia, Mars Research instead aims to import AI skill and wisdom into the freelancers, solopreneurs, digital nomads, and rubber tramps of the world.
From artists to students to vagabonds to entrepreneurs, we believe everyone can get something out of our program.
For Artists:
Reimagine your practice by integrating generative AI tools into your workflows. You'll work with experts in the field, gaining hands-on experience and learning how to apply AI to your artistic vision.
For Researchers:
Mars Research offers time and space for deep investigation, an environment where you can focus on your research without the continual pressure of delivering a product to industry before it’s ready. You will collaborate with a community of brilliant peers, and receive continuous feedback and support as you dive deep into your chosen topic.
For Entrepreneurs:
Incubate your next big idea in our product lab. With guidance from experienced product builders, you'll have the opportunity to develop AI-driven solutions and bring them to market.
Academic Program
Our program runs from mid-January through mid-April 2025, provides the perfect environment for growth, inspiration, and innovation. Surrounded by like-minded souls with similar goals, not only will you gain practical skills, but you'll also have the chance to exhibit your work publicly at our 2nd annual AI film festival.
The curriculum is a work-in-progress and will continue to evolve until the first day of the semester.
Some of the themes we will be exploring include:
Prompt engineering - how to use and combine open-source generative AI tools like Flux and Stable Diffusion to generate complex and personalized multimedia.
LLM Lab - level up our abilities to accelerate complex work using powerful LLM s, including open ones like Llama3, as well as proprietary ones like ChatGPT and Claude.
AI and Society - An open-ended humanistic course investigating the transformative impact this technology will have on the human project.
Residential Program
Mars Research is one of the main camps being organized for Mars College. As a camp we will come together as a community to construct and maintain our communal and living spaces and ensure everyone has access to the resources that they need to thrive.
Mars Research will offer classroom space, coworking space, and housing both on the Mars desert campus and at locations nearby in Bombay Beach. For housing we offer a limited number of bedrooms, trailers, heavy-duty tents, self-build apartments, and parking spaces for vans, RVs, and other auto-based campers.
We will have two main centers of operation. On the desert campus we will construct both an academic and residential building for participants. We will also have a small campus in town around Saturn with a cafe, workspace, and some living spaces. We encourage those who are new to the program to live on the desert campus.
More information on living arrangements will be provided post-application.
About Mars College
Nestled in the serene Southern California desert, Mars College has become a seasonal community of like-minded people who share a passion for living close to nature, practicing self-reliance, and engaging with the world economy on their own terms.
For five years running, we’ve gathered at the beginning of each year to build a communal village equipped with the basic necessities of life (including high speed internet), and engage in productive and educational activities, loosely based on the traditional college framework. At the end of the semester, we tear down the village and disband, leaving the desert to its lonesome self until the next year.
Apply today
Applications are now open through December 1st.
rolling admissions, with one week response time
different paths for full-time (3-month) Martians and passerbys, special guests, or resident researchers
Housing scholarships available
For more info and application, go to https://mars.college/join/