In the summer of 2009, economists reported that one-third of the capital equipment in the United States stood idle while some 17 percent of the workforce were either unemployed, forced into part-time jobs, or “discouraged” from even seeking work.

In 1969, designer, scientist, developer, writer and Southern Illinois University Carbondale professor Buckminster Fuller published his manifesto for a design revolution. Now, fifty years later, Fuller’s work will be recognized as part of the Charles D. Tenney Lecture series at SIU.

Thank you to Kirk Bergstrom for serving on our board of directors for the past 13 years. Kirk has served as Vice Chair and given a tremendous amount of assistance to program strategy, design, and implementation. Kirk is a storyteller, educator, and entrepreneur whose work throughout his career has framed a planetary perspective and encouraged active citizenship.

The Buckminster Fuller Institute is on the hunt for a few stellar Earthians who would like to join us in pro-bono roles. We are building a network of volunteers who would like to offer their skills and talents to BFI so that we may be better equipped to chart a course for the future of Spaceship Earth. Projects include storytelling, design, and programming support.