Welcome to Vol. 7 No. 10 of Design Science News, the e-bulletin of the Buckminster Fuller Institute
Design Science News brings you news from around the world related to humanity's option for success and comprehensive design solutions. It also features updates from BFI and periodic special offers for our members.
BFI UPDATE
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WHAT WE DO
The Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI) serves as a catalyst for the design and implementation of breakthrough strategies for achieving a sustainable future.
We fulfill our mission by offering innovative programs that:
- Utilize BFI's Information Clearinghouse on the pioneering legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller
- Provide a global perspective on the most pressing issues facing humanity
- Engage leading thinkers and designers who are demonstrating whole systems solutions to complex problems
- Provide the opportunity to design and test those solutions in the real world
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New in Dymaxion Artifacts, the online store of the Buckminster Fuller Institute
SALE! Buckminster Fuller Designing for Mobility by Michael John Gorman
For a limited time, get this beautiful new book by Michael John Gorman for only $39.95! Buckminster Fuller: Designing for Mobility, based on new research carried out in the Fuller Archive at Stanford University, argues that the key elements of Fuller's approach to design were born from a life-long ambition to make buildings airborne. Fuller's approach to solving the problem of shelter through a vision of domestic and intellectual autonomy is situated in intellectual and historical context.
This 207 page biography and work history of Buckminster Fuller includes hundreds of rare high quality photographs from the Fuller Archive at Stanford University.
For more information about the book or to purchase a copy, please visit: http://bfi.easystorecreator.com
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"I live on Earth at present, and I don't know what I am. I know that I am not a category. I am not a thing — a noun. I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary process — an integral function of the universe."
— R. Buckminster Fuller, I Seem to Be a Verb 1970
TRENDS & PERSPECTIVES
BioPower Systems: biomimetic ocean energy conversion technologies
From the company's website: "BioPower Systems Pty. Ltd. is commercialising award-winning biomimetic ocean energy conversion technologies. We have adopted nature's mechanisms for survival and energy conversion in the marine environment and have applied these in the development of our proprietary wave and tidal energy systems.
Our technologies inherit benefits developed during 3.8 Billion years of evolutionary optimization in nature's ocean laboratory. The resulting systems move and sway in tune with the forces of the ocean, and naturally streamline when extreme conditions prevail. This leads to low design thresholds and associated low costs.
The inherently simple bioWAVE&tm; and bioSTREAM&tm; devices are designed to supply utility-scale grid-connected renewable energy using lightweight modular systems. These systems will reside beneath the ocean surface, out of view, and in harmony with the living creatures that inspired their design."
http://www.biopowersystems.com
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/005178.html
Small-scale projects transforming villages
In July 2004, Kofi Annan called for a uniquely African green revolution for the 21st century. Through the hard work and commitment of many people around the world, and the understanding that the old models simply do not work, the green revolution he called for is happening. Poor people in rural areas are beginning to increase dramatically their food production, improve child health and nutrition and have access to clean water, markets, electricity and the Internet.
One difference between this integrated approach and what's been done before is that all of it is done in environmentally sustainable ways, supported by enabling government policies with investments at scale.
Ten African countries are making this happen by a combination of bottom-up and top-down actions: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. (Source: Des Moines Register)
Birth of a quieter, greener plane
More and more of us fly every year. As we do so, the political pressure to act to curb greenhouse gas emissions from planes is rising. Now a team of researchers in Britain and the US has come up with a revolutionary new aircraft design that could make a dramatic contribution to curbing climate change. The SAX-40, which has been developed by the Cambridge-MIT Institute, is a radically different shape of aircraft. Officially, it is what is known as a "blended wing". It has a tailless wedge-shaped body with two bat-wings. The Silent Aircraft Initiative (SAI) team has succeeded in coming up with a radically quieter plane. Crucially, the SAX-40 is also 35% more fuel-efficient than any airliner currently flying. (Source: BBC News)
RESOURCES
Habitats
How U.S. state GHG emissions compare internationally
This great resource, created by Science magazine and cross-posted for free on the World Resources Institute website, allows you compare the greenhouse gas emissions of groups of U.S. states with the emissions of other countries. The power of even simple maps like this one to present big ideas is truly staggering. For more information on the methodology used for creating the map and to view a larger, detailed image, please visit:www.wri.org/climate/topic_content.cfm?cid=4141
Worldchanging: A Users Guide for the 21st Century
Worldchanging: A Users Guide for the 21st Century is a groundbreaking compendium of the most innovative solutions, ideas and inventions emerging today for building a sustainable, livable, prosperous future.
From consumer consciousness to a new vision for industry; non-toxic homes to refugee shelters; microfinance to effective philanthropy; socially responsible investing to starting a green business; citizen media to human rights; ecological economics to climate change, this is the most comprehensive, cutting-edge overview to date of what's possible in the near future - if we decide to make it so.
http://www.worldchanging.com/book
Events
Date: November 9th -- 12th , 2006
Time: Programs begin daily at 12:00pm until 11pm
Location: The Brooklyn Lyceum 227 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
N Train to Union Street, Corner of President Street
Admission: $5 for environmental + cultural conferences, $15 for live performance program
From November 9-12 in Gowanus Brooklyn, artists, scientists, community organizers and cultural commentators come together to create a collective vision of a sustainable habitat. Instigated by Eidolon Culture, Habitats provides a model for dialogue between urban developers and environmentalists through conferences and panels, participatory and collaborative art, and educational programs. With community efforts leading to cleaner water, the Gowanus Canal area has experienced an increase in wildlife and the prospect of commercial and cultural revitalization. Habitats celebrates this process.
For more information about the event, please visit http://www.global-habitat.net/
BFI and Worldchanging Event
You are invited to join Worldchanging.com and the Buckminster Fuller Institute for a reception and evening of art and inspired discussion as we celebrate the launch of the much-anticipated new book:Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century
Date: Tuesday, November 21st
Time: from 6:30-9:00 p.m (presentations begin at 7:15pm)
Location: 15 Nassau St. corner of Pine St. New York City*
RSVP: Please send and email to: worldchangingBFI (at) gmail.com
Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J,M,Z to Broadway-Nassau stop.
*The event is part of an on-going installation/performance piece by environmental artist Beaumont entitled: Boxed-In/Boxed Out, sponsored by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
Presenters Include:
- Alex Steffan, founder of Worldchanging and editor of the new book, will speak about the work of the organization and the book project.
- Dr. Michael Ben-Eli, former student and collaborator of R. Buckminster Fuller, will connect today's 'bright green' revolution to the pioneering legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller, and discuss his Five Principles of Sustainability.
- Beaumont, award-winning environmental artist, will discuss her project Boxed In/Boxed Out, addressing the continual displacement of artists and imagining what a sustainable model for an all-inclusive community might look like.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century is a 608-page compendium of the most innovative solutions, ideas and inventions for building a livable, prosperous future, written by more than sixty noted writers and thinkers, with a forward from Al Gore and an introduction by Bruce Sterling.
From consumer consciousness to a new vision for industry; non-toxic homes to refugee shelters; microfinance to effective philanthropy; socially responsible investing to starting a green business; citizen media to human rights; ecological economics to climate change, we think this is the most comprehensive, cutting-edge overview to date of what's possible in the near future - if we decide to make it so. For more information, and to purchase the book, please visit: http://www.worldchanging.com/book
Read Advance praise for the book:
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/005130.html
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