Welcome to Vol. 7 No. 7 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
JOIN US FOR BFI'S FIRST ONLINE DIALOGUE
Extended until August 18th!
Sustainability: The Five Core Principles
A New Framework
The Buckminster Fuller Institute invites you to participate in this online dialogue to examine a fresh set of sustainability principles.
The Dialogue began on July 10th and due to the sustained level of interest and high quality of the interaction, it has been extended an additional two weeks to August 18th. It is organized as an open forum, so feel free to contribute your ideas at any time.
The principles were developed by Michael Ben-Eli, a former student and close collaborator of Buckminster Fuller. Michael will actively participate in the dialogue.
To learn more or to join the dialogue now, please visit:
http://www.bfi-internal.org/sustainability
DESIGN SCIENCE LAB
The 2006 Design Science Labs in New York, NY and Asheville, NC have concluded and we are hard at work on next year's programs! This year's Lab participants ranged in age from 14 to 73 and came to New York and Asheville from ten countries and every continent (with the exception of Antarctica...). To view some of the output from the New York and North Carolina Labs, please visit:
http://www.designsciencelab.org/output.php
If you would like to receive information about next year's programs as it becomes available, please sign up for the mailing list on:
http://www.designsciencelab.org
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"The things to do are: the things that need doing, that you see need to be done, and that no one else seems to see need to be done."
— R. Buckminster Fuller
TRENDS & PERSPECTIVES
Geckos inspire "super-adhesive"
Just one meter square of a new super-sticky material inspired by gecko feet could suspend the weight of an average family car, say its inventors. The plastic, known as Synthetic Gecko, has been developed by researchers at aerospace and defense firm BAE Systems. Like the reptile's foot, the reusable polymer is covered in millions of tiny mushroom-like hairs that provide grip. Future applications could include an adhesive to repair aircraft, skin grafts or even a Spiderman-style suit. (Source: BBC News)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5217240.stm
China makes huge breakthrough in wind-power technology
Chinese developers unveiled the world's first full-permanent magnetic levitation (Maglev) wind power generator at the Wind Power Asia Exhibition 2006 held June 28 in Beijing, according to Xinhua News. Regarded as a key breakthrough in the evolution of global wind power technology -- and a notable advance in independent intellectual property rights in China -- the generator was jointly developed by Guangzhou Energy Research Institute under China's Academy of Sciences and by Guangzhou Zhongke Hengyuan Energy Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
The Maglev generator is expected to boost wind energy generating capacity by as much as 20 percent over traditional wind turbines. This would effectively cut the operational expenses of wind farms by up to half, keeping the overall cost of wind power under 0.4 yuan ($US 5 cents), according to Guokun Li, the chief scientific developer of the new technology. Further, the Maglev is able to utilize winds with starting speeds as low as 1.5 meters per second (m/s), and cut-in speeds of 3 m/s, the chief of Zhongke Energy was quoted as saying at the exhibition. When compared with the operational hours of existing wind turbines, the new technology will add an additional 1,000 hours of operation annually to wind power plants in areas with an average wind speed of 3 m/s. (Source: Worldwatch Institute)
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4217
Soccer/foot ball shaped house inspired by Bucky
From the Japanese designer's website:
Is your present house OK? Is it strong enough to endure a great earthquake or flood to be caused by global warming? Barier offers a safe, living space, a multi-functional, elegant and playful space, emphasizing each individual personality.
Barier is a soccer ball-shaped house developed by us (international patent pending). A soccer ball with which you played in your childhood gets bigger like a dream ball and appears as a place to live in. It floats on the sea and can be a rescue ship. We believe it will be a gift to those who never give up a dream.
Editor's Note: I'm not sure what I like more, the design or the colorful translation -- from Japanese -- of its description! (Source: Inhabitat and World Window)
http://g-wood.jp/en
RESOURCES
In addition, there will be artifact exhibit space for participants and time for all participants to discuss and share their work.
Full Belly Project's Universal Nut Sheller
This machine was invented by Jock Brandis to shell peanuts at the request of a women's coop in Mali, later he would co-found a non-profit development organization called the Full Belly Project that works on open source appropriate technology (OSAT) for developing countries. There are around 1/2 billion people in the world that rely on peanuts as a primary source of protein. Most people can only hand shell 3lbs (1.3 kilos) of peanuts an hour, but this machine can do 125lbs (57 kilos) an hour. In addition machine is actually capable of shelling a variety of nuts, including wing beans, pine nuts, and neem nuts. The machine uses two sets of fiberglass molds ($300), some common metal parts($25 per machine), some cement and sand (usually $10 locally). Including shipping the cost of one set of molds and enough parts to make 5 machines is $600. The molds and metal parts can be ordered from the Full Belly Project, but if someone can replicate them feel free.
Editor's Note: Representatives from the Fully Belly Project brought their Universal Nut Sheller to the Asheville, North Carolina Design Science Lab as an example of appropriate technology, very impressive! (Source: Instructables and Full Belly Project)
http://www.fullbellyproject.org
http://www.instructables.com/id/ERSV3ZTAA8EP287HYR/
More Perfect Wiki -- creating a more perfect union
More perfect is an innovative site for involving the public in creating and collaborating on laws and public policy. Have an idea? Share it. Change it. Edit it. Pick a topic that is of interest to you, whether it is education, health care, transportation, civil liberties or government reform. Now, go participate in shaping the public agenda on that issue right now! That's more perfect.
What makes more perfect unique is that you can edit any policy issue that's been presented, or even add a new issue of your own. If you don't agree with an idea on a given topic, or believe that there is a better approach, you can edit it. Instantly. No committee. No approval process.
More perfect relies on technology known as a wiki where each page has an edit button, allowing anyone to change anything. The premise behind this site is that with more people will come more ideas which will help to build a more perfect union. Ideas should live or die based solely upon their value, and public policy is made better through open collaboration. (Source: Worldchanging and more perfect)
http://www.moreperfect.org
EVENTS
Best of Friends: Buckminster Fuller and Isamu Noguchi
Exhibition Opening May 19, 2006
May 19 -- October 15, 2006
The Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Boulevard), Long Island City, New York
A special exhibition devoted to the long friendship and collaboration between visionary designer and inventor R. Buckminster Fuller and acclaimed sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi opens at The Noguchi Museum on May 19, 2006. Fuller's emphasis on the humanistic use of science and technology strongly influenced the younger Noguchi. Although they collaborated on only one specific project, Fuller's Dymaxion car, for over fifty years, the two men together explored ideas that have particular relevance today, including the search for renewable energy sources, accessible designs, and "green" architecture.
EXHIBITION OPENS MAY 19, 2006 for further information, please visit:
http://www.noguchi.org
SNEC Fourth Annual Summer Workshop in Oswego, NY
12-13 August 2006
Summer Workshop on Applied Synergetics: Living Structures
Theme: Applied Synergetics: Living Structures
Description:
The Synergetics Collaborative's Fourth Annual Summer Workshop in Oswego will focus on "Applied Synergetics: Living Structures".
The three main workshops will be as follows:
When: Saturday 12 August 2006, 8AM - 10PM | Sunday 13 August 2006, 8AM - 6PM
Registration:Please register early so we can order sufficient supplies for all of the workshops.
Housing: Contact John Belt to make housing arrangements. Available housing is limited, and first come, first served. Reservations must be made by July 14th!!!
Where: SUNY Oswego
Department of Technology, Design Studio
Wilber Hall, Design Studio, Room 350
Oswego, NY
For more information, please visit » SNEC website
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