We're excited to unveil the new HTML version of Design Science News, we hope you enjoy the images! Also, be sure to check out the animation of NASA's new tetrahedral "Tetwalker" linked below.
If you would like to read this newsletter online, go to: www.bfi.org/ds_news_v7_n5
Welcome to Vol. 7 No. 5 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
NATURE'S DESIGN MODEL-BUILDING CLASS
- June 20 - July 20
- July 25 - August 24
Tuesdays & Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30pm at the Buckminster Fuller Institute Brooklyn, New York
Space is limited - register today!
See for specific details about the course.
This is your last chance to apply for the New York City Design Science Lab! The final application deadline is June 7th for New York. There are only a few spots left so register today!
We will be accepting applications for the Asheville, North Carolina program for several more weeks.
- June 21 - June 30th, 2006: New York City: the United Nations and UN International School
- July 19th - July 28th, 2006: Asheville, North Carolina: University of North Carolina, Asheville
SPACE IS LIMITED -- APPLY NOW at DESIGNSCIENCELAB.ORG
SPACESHIP EARTH SATELLITE MAPS BACK IN STOCK!
Our newly redesigned Spaceship Earth Satellite Maps are back in stock in our online store! Designed in collaboration with Jim Knighton of Clear Light Graphics, this map presents Fuller's Dymaxion projection in brilliant true to life color.
To purchase a copy of this beautiful work of art, please visit: bfi.easystorecreator.com
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"in architecture, form is a noun; in industry, form is a verb."
— R. Buckminster Fuller, Nine Chains to the Moon (1938)
TRENDS & PERSPECTIVES
NASA to conquer space with swarms of tiny robot pyramids
Photo Courtesy of NASA.gov
Nasa is working on the ultimate in adaptable spacecraft - Ants, or autonomous nanotechnology swarms. The first steps have just been taken at the Goddard space flight centre in Maryland by an awkward robot creature called the Tetwalker hobbling across the floor of the lab.
Tet stands for tetrahedral: the prototype is an empty pyramid with four electric motors at each node linked to each other by six struts.
» Click here to read the full story
» Click here to view an animation of the Tetwalker in action
Source: Guardian UK
Arctic "Noah's Ark" vault to protect world's seeds
A frozen "Noah's Ark" to safeguard the world's crop seeds from cataclysms will be built on a remote Arctic island off Norway, the Norwegian government said on Tuesday.
Construction of the Global Seed Vault, in a mountainside on the island of Svalbard 1,000 km (600 miles) from the North Pole, would start in June with completion due in September 2007.
"Norway will by this contribute to the global system for ensuring the diversity of food plants. A Noah's Ark on Svalbard if you will," Norwegian Agriculture and Food Minister Terje Riis-Johansen said in a statement.
» click here to read the full article
Source: Redorbit.com
MIT hoping to short-circuit energy crunch
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is planning an ambitious effort to solve the world's energy problems, including spending at least $25 million annually on new research, according to a report set to be released today.
MIT president Susan Hockfield declared in her inaugural address last year that finding solutions to the looming energy crisis would be one of the university's top priorities.
The new report, compiled by a faculty committee working over a year, lays out a long list of areas where researchers can make a contribution, from solar and nuclear power, to somewhat less familiar technologies such as nanotechnology, new energy-conserving construction techniques, and advanced computer simulation for energy grids and transportation networks.
» Click here to read the full article
Source: The Boston Globe
Belgium plans first renewable energy Antarctic base
Belgium will build the first polar station powered solely by renewable sources of energy at a site in the Antarctic that will study climate change.
The base will be constructed from November 2007 to March 2008 at a cost of 6.4 million euros ($8.2 million), project organizer The International Polar Foundation (IPF) said when he unveiled the plan on Wednesday.
"It's the first ever station built which will use only renewable energy -- solar and wind," IPF President Alain Hubert told Reuters in a telephone interview.
The station, the Antarctic summer home to 20 people, including 12 to 16 scientists, will focus on studying climate change and will mark Belgium's return to the continent after an absence of over 30 years.
» Click here to read the full article
Source: Reuters.com
RESOURCES
Take part in the world's largest interactive climate experiment!
Trying to predict climate change is hard. There are lots of factors involved -- air temperature, sea temperature and cloud cover all play a part -- as do dozens of other variables. Therefore, there are a huge number of calculations involved.
One solution is for scientists to use the largest supercomputer they can find. But even the biggest supercomputers are only so good.
We think you can do better.
Using a technique known as distributed computing, we're hoping to harness the power of thousands of PCs around the world. If 10,000 people sign up, we'll be faster than the world's biggest computer. And we're hoping to be even better than that.
» Click here to read the full article
Source: BBC News
Instant Expert: Energy and Fuels
The New Scientist has put together this fantastic quick reference guide to energy and fuels, including renewables. Complete with links to other sources and more information, this guide is useful for research projects or just answering your own burning questions (pun intended).
» Click here to read the full article
Source: New Scientist
Worldmapper
Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest such as population distribution, oil imports, water use and much much more.
» Click here to read the full article
Source: Worldchanging.com
EVENTS
Best of Friends: Buckminster Fuller and Isamu Noguchi
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 the Noguchi museum website
Review of the show from the New York Times:
» Click here to read the full article
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:
- Compound Curved Metal Shelters
- Integrating Field Structure Theory and Quantum Architecture
- Folding Surface Structures and Deployable Kinetic Architecture
In addition, there will be artifact exhibit space for participants and time for all participants to discuss and share their work.
When: Saturday 12 August 2006, 8AM - 10PM
Sunday 13 August 2006, 8AM - 6PM
Registration:
Registration Form (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
Have you come across interesting Design Science news articles, resources, or events?
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Thank You!
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