My first experience of Bucky was when I toured a geodesic home in the summer of 1986, I had seen geodesics and the experience changed the way I thought about home design. I discovered the depth of information regarding Bucky when I read his biography in 1996. The book was a good introduction with a few quotes from Bucky and it was filled with design drawings. Later I read all of Bucky's published works one by one, the greatest being Synergetics I and II. I could feel my mind changing shape, I felt as if I had been touched by a greater mind, who saw farther than the horizion. Ever since, I have considered the day to day problems of life as a small part of a bigger picture. Because of Bucky I see hope, where before I saw dispair. I can only wish that his ideas are spread far and wide to increase the knowledge base of humankind on our small planet.

It is wonderful to see that generations under myself are putting to use Buckminster Fullers Ideas.
That he is being studied and hopeful expanded ideas are in the minds and hearts of students like you Phil and others.
I had the honor of spending a New years with Dr. Fuller and his family in Ca.
I went to school with Jamie Synder his grandson and i must say i am very proud to see jamie carrying in his grandfathers footsteps.
In the late 1970's i was told that Dr. Fuller was experimenting with sleep in small doses at a time.
What ever came of that experiement?
Mr. Jamie Synder i hope you are doing well.
Joan Handelman

Living on this side of the world, (South-East Asia) one would not expect to see a geodesic dome or a dymaxion house, let alone hear of Bucky. Therefore I would say that Bucky is relatively unknown here in Singapore. So my unexpected 'encounter,' (in a sense) with Bucky was when I attended the Money And You program in 1993. I remember the facilitator sharing about Bucky standing on the shores of Lake Michigan thinking of ending it all, commit suicide, at the age of 32. Instead he did not and decided to commit ego-suicide. I was moved by the story. They introduced his book 'Critical Path'. I looked at it, and decided that it wasn't for me, far too intimidating. However at the end of the seminar I was offered a copy of the book by a fellow participant, and accepted it. Skimming through the pages, I zeroed in on his 'self-disciplines of Buckminster Fuller.' I was intrigued by his 'direct experiential evidence of God' I don't recall ever coming across anyone so scientific and so meticulous in the way he describe things to come out so clearly, stating his belief in God. I'm not a religious person, and I generally shy away from talking about God. But somehow I began to share with anyone who cared to listen, that here is this guy talking about God. I began to delve into the book. I too got hooked. My life didn't make much sense. However after reading, or rather "studying" Bucky, and appreciating his perspectives of What's really going on in Universe, (my intuition is that he knew what was going on in Universe) I felt that my life began to make sense.
Ever since I have studied many of his books, and I'm glad that there is this forum here to discuss and learn from you all about your perspectives of Bucky, and in what ways have you applied his ideas
My challenge would be finding my 'doing what Universe or nature wants me to do' living my life precessionally and not worrying about trying to earn money for a living.
I'm just a lay person, without university degrees

I take out Phil's offer, 'I talk about Bucky to anyone who asks, and I am very interested making it easier for others to learn about Bucky's work.' I'd look forward to much learning from Phil.

And thank Elizabeth for this opportunity to share about myself

I discovered Bucky through an interesting coincidence. Since high school I've been fascinated by the structure of reality. I'll read anything I can find on physics or metaphysics. Through exploring the martial arts system called Rmax I learned that the body behaves like a curious system called tensegrity discovered by Keneth Snelson and Buckminster Fuller. I quickly downloaded "A Fuller Explanation" and "Synergetics 1 & 2" and have been amazed by how true and intuitive Bucky's work is. As a result I've decided to switch from Physics to Architecture. And I'm excited to take part in the Livingry Revolution.

Joyfully, Aaron

How I first heard about Bucky: Through childhood, my grandfather told several stories about growing up and schooling with Dr. Fuller. I vaguely recall a mid-1960's Maine day when grandparents left to visit him. After starting a 1975 architecture course, while attending their school alma mater, I believe it was Bucky with whom I had a very interesting breakfast at the home of their mutual friend. Architectural studies continued in a school of design accommodating latitude of influences. Around the publication time of Synergetics and Synergetics2, some students actively investigated Bucky's ideas, especially, within the context of a studio called "Ocean Habitat". Three of us attended his three day lectures at UMass Amherst where I reintroduced myself in the after talk clamor. Days later, an accident allowed me to specifically pursue OWEC Ocean Wave Energy Converter(tm) for electricity, desalination, and hydrogen production from seawater. OWEC utilizes octet truss configurations that align with RBF's Dymaxion Map. I wrote Bucky for permission to use the map and suggested possible realignment of the icosahedral grid with respect to the OWEB grid and land/ocean boundaries. He sent me the 100 dot version (each properly located dot representing 1% of humanity) and suggested that some of the map's virtues would be lost if realigned. I assured stringent grid maintenance in a thank you letter to which Bucky had his secretary send me his floating breakwater patent. Bucky was probably expecting my finished map but the project emphasis changed to constructing three OWEC working models. I regret that I had not finished the map project and failed to answer his secretary's letter. I finally did the map and updated it in 2005 (letter and maps at www.owec.com). Bucky's work continues to amaze me and a fervent hope is that his influence reach wider audience "just-in-time". There is much work to do.

welcome phil!
what are you studying/majoring in at HAmpshire? do you find you are able to integrate Fuller's ideas into your coursework? if so, how?
thanks for jumping in...looking forward to hearing more from you!

et

I first became interested in Bucky in 10th grade. At the time, I wanted to be an architect. At the dinner table, my father asked me if could name two famous american architects, and I named Frank Lloyd Wright and Buckminster Fuller. Knowing that Bucky was not exactly an architect, my dad suggested that I do a little research on him, which I did later that night. I already knew about geodesic domes, but the Dymaxion house, and Dymaxion car we new to me. By the time I read about could nine structures, I was hooked.

Now, I'm in my second year at Hampshire College, and I've only become more interested. I try to learn as much about Bucky and his work as I can, along with more traditional topics. I talk about Bucky to anyone who asks, and I am very interested making it easier for others to learn about Bucky's work.