I'd like to learn from the experience of others as I embark on a journey to build a modular lightweight construction system that utilizes synergetics for form and load bearing optimization.

I've run into a few snags so far, but don't let my focus on composites bother you. I'd just like to know things like wat experiences people have had building tetrahedral trusses, for example, or joining struts for domes in whatever material they are using.

If other have experience with smaller structures, that would be very helpful. I am thinking tinker toys, and hobbyists who might have some experience.

People can and do change. Buckminster Fuller through his example showed us how to take the path less traveled. The essence to change is how to economically become self sufficient. His concept of PRECESSION, along with four other powerful concepts to empowerment, are outlined in this essay. References to source material are also provided for those who want to fully research and make their life and its action matter.

This came in today from the SNEC mailing list

[SNEC] Symposium on Synergetics and Morphology; Providence, RI; Nov 3-4

Who: The Synergetics Collaborative (SNEC) in collaboration with the Philomorphs and The Edna Lawrence Nature Lab at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

What: Presenting our Fourth Symposium on

* * * Synergetics and Morphology: * * *
* * * Explorations into the Shapes of Nature * * *

The Synergetics Collaborative has teamed with the Philomorphs and The Edna Lawrence Nature Lab to present a two-day symposium on "Synergetics and Morphology: Explorations into the Shapes of Nature" at the RISD Auditorium on 2-4 Nov 2007. In addition to presenting an engaging program around the intriguing concept of "the Form of Nature", the event will include a reception on Friday 2 November and a dance performance on Saturday 3 November. The event will also feature an art exhibit on "Synergetics and Morphology" with the work of participants on display at the nearby Waterman Gallery and in the Nature Lab. The Arthur Loeb Design Science Teaching Collection, which now resides with the Nature Lab, will be highlighted during the event. The event will continue our efforts to build upon Buckminster Fuller's Synergetics legacy. It will also offer a reunion for Philomorphs. Finally, it will provide an opportunity to discuss and share diverse viewpoints among the Synergetics community, the Philomorphs, the RISD student and faculty communities, and other explorers of Form aboard SpaceShip Earth.

The symposium will appeal to a broad range of individuals who share a common interest in Morphology (the Art and Science of Form: Goethe is reported to be the first to study and define morphology), including artists, designers, naturalists, geometers, mathematicians, scientists, educators and students.

When:

• A Reception will be held on Friday, 2 November 2007 from 7PM - 9PM
• Saturday 3 November 2007, 8AM - 5PM (Symposium), 8PM - 10PM (Performance)
• Sunday 4 November 2007, 8AM - 5PM (Symposium)

Where: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Auditorium
17 Canal Street (Canal Walkway at Market Square)
Providence, RI 02906

Travel Directions: http://synergeticists.org/risd.directions.html

Registration: The registration fee is $125 (includes lunch tickets for Sat & Sun, and the performance on Sat evening); $30 for students. RISD students enter at no charge but registration is required. Registrations received after 15 October will be subject to a $25 late processing fee. At the door registrations will be subject to a $50 surcharge.

Please fill out the on-line registration form at http://synergeticists.org/symposium.registration.html

Please mail checks to Synergetics Collaborative; 240 Copley Road; Upper Darby, PA 19082-4016.
Call 610-352-7086 if you have any registration questions.

Art Show: There will be space in the Waterman Gallery and The Edna Lawrence Nature Lab for exhibiting 2-D and 3-D pieces. Please request space by sending a note about your pieces including their dimensions to curator@synergeticists.org. Unless the pieces are large, we hope to accept some submissions from all interested participants.

If the space available is exceeded by the early submissions, we will need to select among a limited number of the larger pieces in a jurried process. Please request space by 30 September to allow time for the jury to notify participants about which pieces can be shown.

Poster Papers: There will be limited space for some participants to contribute Poster Papers. Please send requests to present a Poster Paper to papers@synergeticists.org.

Event Poster: Please let others know about this event by passing on this poster: Synergetics and Morphology Flyer at http://synergeticists.org/snec.2007.11.A.pdf

Symposium Home Page: http://synergeticists.org/snec.announce.meeting.2007.11.html

International Participants: Information for international participants is at http://synergeticists.org/international.html

About The Sponsors: Synergetics Collaborative (SNEC) was founded in 2002 as an organization to bring together a diverse group of people with an interest in Buckminster Fuller's Synergetics in face-to-face workshops, symposia, seminars, and other meetings to educate and support research and understanding of the many facets of Synergetics, its methods and principles.

Visit the Synergetics Collaborative on-line at http://synergeticists.org/

Philomorphs, the "lovers of form", is an ad hoc group founded by Cyril Stanley Smith, Steven J. Gould, and Arthur Loeb, to provide a forum for those interested in form to share ideas in process or new thinking with other interested parties. Two memorable examples of presentations were: the structure and behavior of clusters of soap bubbles by Cyril Smith or the structural jumps in changes of snail evolution by Steven Gould. For many years, the Philomorphs were hosted by Arthur Loeb in his studio in Sever Hall and then in the Carpenter Center at Harvard University. The following quote by Cyril Stanley Smith in 1979 exemplifies the main thinking of the Philomorphs: "There seems to be emerging a new philosophy of structural hierarchy applicable to change biological, intellectual, esthetic or social." Philomorphs has been in hiatus for several years. We hope the event on "Synergetics and Morphology" will provide a reunion for Philomorphs' participants to rekindle their passion for discussing their work on Form.

The Edna Lawrence Nature Lab at Rhode Island School of Design uniquely integrates a natural history collection, a lending library of natural specimens and a studio environment. With its growing collection of more than 80,000 natural history objects, books, visual resources, microscopes and a digital work station, the Nature Lab serves as an invaluable research facility for the RISD community. In 2003, The Nature Lab accepted the Arthur Loeb Design Teaching Collection. This hands-on collection of hundreds of three-dimensional polygons and two-dimensional patterns inspires students and faculty to examine nature's fundamental responses to design problems.

Visit the Nature Lab online at http://www.risd.edu/nature.cfm

CJ Fearnley | Explorer in Universe

cjf (at) CJFearnley (dot) com | Design Science Revolutionary

http://www.CJFearnley.com | "Dare to be Naive" -- Bucky Fuller

The Synergetics of Student Success workshop is part of SyRF Systems, The Synergetic Redesigning of Fitness. SyRF Systems was created by Lorne Young and integrates the most ancient science from the East with the most recent science from the West for total mind, body and spirit fitness. This synergetic system creates innovative, realistic and practical techniques and strategies that teachers can employ to help our students achieve success both inside and outside the classroom. These strategies develop attention and focus, transform stress, improve academic and athletic performance and lead the way to the development of character including integrity, leadership, caring and compassion. Research on students in all grade levels has shown significant and measurable advances in these areas. Teachers and students describe this system as “exciting…life-changing…fun…transformative”. In this workshop participants will be actively engaged in the practice of this system and will be given the opportunity to join the expanding SyRF Systems Research team. This workshop has been presented in many schools and educational conferences across North America with future presentations during the summer 2007 in Chicago (IBNA Annual Regional Conference) New Mexico (United World College of the American West) and Toronto, Canada (Upper Canada College). For more information on this and other workshops or to view the book SyRF Systems, visit www.SyRFSystems.com or email lorne@syrfsystems.com or call Lorne at 416-523-2748

This came in today from the SNEC mailing list

* * * Workshop on Quantum Building * * *

in Oswego, NY, 22, 23, & 24 June 2007

Description: The Synergetics Collaborative's Fourth Annual Summer Workshop in Oswego will focus on "Quantum Building: The First 28 Most-Efficient-Minimum Geometrical Systems". The main workshop will be led by Thomas Miller who writes:


"The workshop is about learning to clone the four basic cloning grids that make the volume quanta (Fuller's term) the 'a' module, a-b module, mite and 't' module. We will concentrate on the first three. The grids become self-organizing which needs four abilities: self-stabilization, self-correction, self-regeneration and self-innovation. The overall idea is that these modules have a modular building system inside them and we will explore that system."

In addition, there will be artifact exhibit space for participants and a session for participants to discuss their work.

• When: Friday Reception 22 June 2006, 7 - 10PM ($15; pre-register to get directions), Saturday 23 June 2006, 8AM - 10PM (Registration: 8 AM), Sunday 24 June 2006, 8AM - 6PM
• Registration: Pre-registration is required! Please fill out the following form: http://synergeticists.org/workshop.registration.html
• Housing: Contact John Belt (belt (at) oswego (dot) edu) to make housing arrangements. On-campus 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
• Event Web Page:http://synergeticists.org/snec.announce.meeting.2007.06.html
• Travel Directions: http://www.oswego.edu/about/visit/directions/index.html
• Workshop Fee: $60 general ($30 for students)
• Publicity Poster: Please let others know about this event by passing on this poster: http://synergeticists.org/snec.2007.06.pdf
• Exhibit Space: Exhibit space will be available for showing artifacts. Space must be reserved by July 15. To make arrangements for space, send a request with the dimensions of your piece(s) to John Belt (belt (at) oswego (dot) edu). Please bring a card with a brief description of your work for display in the exhibit area.

CJ Fearnley | Explorer in Universe

cjf (at) CJFearnley (dot) com | Design Science Revolutionary

http://www.CJFearnley.com | "Dare to be Naive" -- Bucky Fuller

Kirby Urner gives a talk at the London Knowledge Lab. This talk explores an alternative technical track through maths which intersects with Fuller's synergetics more successfully. The approach is called Pythonic Mathematics, meaning it elects to impart math savvy in the context of a particular object oriented computer language.


» Click here to view the talk

» Click here to see the Synergetics Teaching Website also by Kirby Urner

From Lorne Young | Upper Canada College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, email | 416-488-1125 ext 3411

Content: Throughout this three-week (110 hour) integrated curriculum unit for grades 7-9 (adaptable to higher or lower grades) several general principles are emphasized and employed to maximize the benefits of an integrated unit. The systems approach, whole systems thinking and the underlying principle of synergy are the central, core concepts that all of the curricular areas will revolve around.

The following scenario is presented to the class:

The Synergetic Organization for Sustainability on Earth (SOS Earth) is recruiting/advertising for 4 individuals to make up a Research Team that will be spending 5 years on an uninhabited, ecologically sensitive island off the coast of British Columbia. The goal of this team is to be a model for the rest of the planet and to demonstrate that it is possible to live sustainably with the environment, without degrading it, for an extended period of time while doing important research on endangered species. The team must accomplish the following:

• Design a research station where the 4 team members will be able to live sustainably and self-sufficiently for the 5-year term
• Design an energy production system that will provide sufficient energy for the station
• Design a food and water production system for the 5 years
• Design a waste and recycling system
• All of this within the climatic and geographical limits of the island
• The design of the station and its components should be constructed to a realistic scale, ie research into the requirements and appropriate size of the various components is necessary

» Click here to find out more details

by Barry Ray of Florida State University



Working with a material 10 times lighter than steel—but 250 times stronger—would be a dream come true for any engineer. If this material also had amazing properties that made it highly conductive of heat and electricity, it would start to sound like something out of a science fiction novel. Yet one Florida State University research group, the Florida Advanced Center for Composite Technologies (FAC2T), is working to develop real-world applications for just such a material.



Dr. Ben Wang

Ben Wang, a professor of industrial engineering at the Florida A&M University-FSU College of Engineering, serves as director of FAC2T, which works to develop new, high-performance composite materials, as well as technologies for producing them.

Wang is widely acknowledged as a pioneer in the growing field of nano-materials science. His main area of research, involving an extraordinary material known as "buckypaper," has shown promise in a variety of applications, including the development of aerospace structures, the production of more-effective body armor and armored vehicles, and the construction of next-generation computer displays. The U.S. military has shown a keen interest in the military applications of Wang's research; in fact, the Army Research Lab recently awarded FAC2T a $2.5-million grant, while the Air Force Office of Scientific Research awarded $1.2 million.

At FAC2T, our objective is to push the envelope to find out just how strong a composite material we can make using buckypaper," Wang said. "In addition, we're focused on developing processes that will allow it to be mass-produced cheaply."

Buckypaper is made from carbon nanotubes—amazingly strong fibers about 1/50,000th the diameter of a human hair that were first developed in the early 1990s. Buckypaper owes its name to Buckminsterfullerene, or Carbon 60—a type of carbon molecule whose powerful atomic bonds make it twice as hard as a diamond. Sir Harold Kroto, now a professor and scientist with FSU's department of chemistry and biochemistry, and two other scientists shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery of Buckminsterfullerene, nicknamed "buckyballs" for the molecules' spherical shape. Their discovery has led to a revolution in the fields of chemistry and materials science—and directly contributed to the development of buckypaper.



Among the possible uses for buckypaper that are being researched at FAC2T:

• If exposed to an electric charge, buckypaper could be used to illuminate computer and television screens. It would be more energy-efficient, lighter, and would allow for a more uniform level of brightness than current cathode ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD) technology.
• As one of the most thermally conductive materials known, buckypaper lends itself to the development of heat sinks that would allow computers and other electronic equipment to disperse heat more efficiently than is currently possible. This, in turn, could lead to even greater advances in electronic miniaturization.
• Because it has an unusually high current-carrying capacity, a film made from buckypaper could be applied to the exteriors of airplanes. Lightning strikes then would flow around the plane and dissipate without causing damage.
• Films also could protect electronic circuits and devices within airplanes from electromagnetic interference, which can damage equipment and alter settings. Similarly, such films could allow military aircraft to shield their electromagnetic "signatures," which can be detected via radar.

FAC2T "is at the very forefront of a technological revolution that will dramatically change the way items all around us are produced," said Kirby Kemper, FSU's vice president for Research. "The group of faculty, staff, students and post-docs in this center have been visionary in their ability to recognize the tremendous potential of nanotechnology. The potential applications are mind-boggling."

FSU has four U.S. patents pending that are related to its buckypaper research.

In addition to his academic and scientific responsibilities, Wang recently was named FSU's assistant vice president for Research. In this role, he will help to advance research activities at the College of Engineering and throughout the university.

"I look forward to bringing researchers together to pursue rewarding research opportunities," Wang said. "We have very knowledgeable and talented faculty and students, and I will be working with them to help meet their full potential for advancement in their fields."

Source © Florida State University, » Click here for the original article from FSU

» Click here for more info on" Bucky Paper"

from Scientific American, January 1998 | by Donald E. Ingber; 10 page(s)



Cover Story: Life's Architecture: cells grow with tensegrity, Scientific American, January 1998; by Donald E. Ingber; 10 page(s)

Life is the ultimate example of complexity at work. An organism, whether it is a bacterium or a baboon, develops through an incredibly complex series of interactions involving a vast number of different components. These components, or subsystems, are themselves made up of smaller molecular components, which independently exhibit their own dynamic behavior, such as the ability to catalyze chemical reactions. Yet when they are combined into some larger functioning unit--such as a cell or tissue--utterly new and unpredictable properties emerge, including the ability to move, to change shape and to grow.

Although researchers have recognized this intriguing fact for some time, most discount it in their quest to explain life's fundamentals. For the past several decades, biologists have attempted to advance our understanding of how the human body works by defining the properties of life's critical materials and molecules, such as DNA, the stuff of genes. Indeed, biologists are now striving to identify every gene in the complete set, known as the genome that every human being carries. Because genes are the "blueprints" for the key molecules of life, such as proteins, this Holy Grail of molecular biology will lead in the near future to a catalogue of essentially all the molecules from which a human is created. Understanding what the parts of a complex machine are made of, however, does little to explain how the whole system works, regardless of whether the complex system is a combustion engine or a cell. In other words, identifying and describing the molecular puzzle pieces will do little if we do not understand the rules for their assembly.

» Click here to download a PDF of the full article

Molecularium™ is an award-winning, groundbreaking Digital-Dome animation that takes audiences on an unforgettable adventure into the nanoscale universe of molecules with an ensemble cast of animated atoms. This National Science Foundation funded project was co-written and produced by Kurt Przybilla, long time BFI member, student of Synergetics and inventor of Tetra Tops™.

The Molecularium™ Project's premiere attraction, Riding Snowflakes, is a science lesson, a thrilling ride, a musical cartoon and a magical journey into the world of atoms and molecules. Aboard the Molecularium™, audiences join an ensemble cast of atomic characters on an immersive and unforgettable adventure into the nanoscale universe. Explore billions and trillions of molecules with Oxy, a precocious young oxygen atom, and Hydro and Hydra, her hydrogen sidekicks. Fly through the structure of a snowflake in the most fantastic ship in the Universe at a digital planetarium dome near you soon.

The Molecularium™ Project is an entirely new way to learn. It is committed to promoting science literacy and awareness for children of all ages. Our goal is to create a series of unique vehicles using engaging atomic characters to fulfill this commitment.

Molecularium™ is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between scientists and artists, educators and entertainers. The first show of its kind, Molecularium™ presents accurate molecular simulations within a musical cartoon adventure. The crew of Molecularium™ draws from the talents of over 100 people from a wide range of disciplines: scientists, molecular simulators, computer animators, story and song writers, character creators, singers, actors, musicians, teachers, students, software developers, audio and video engineers, and many more.

Molecularium™ is the flagship outreach and informal education effort of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's National Science Foundation funded Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures.

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION OF THE MOLECULARIUM^™

Omnidirectional Projection Systems: The development of digital dome projection systems for planetaria is a recent one. Digital dome is an emerging medium that allows us to use the dome to visualize much more than space and stars. Most well known large planetaria have already installed multiple projector digital systems, but the development of single projector systems with an omnifocus lens has radically reduced cost and complexity, and created a rapidly growing number of small digital dome systems worldwide.
Omnidirectional Fisheye Lens: Molecularium^™ was developed in a digital dome with a single lens projection system. Inspired by this innovation, the Molecularium^™ team developed its counterpart: an omnidirectional fisheye lens for a virtual camera. The omnidirectional camera captures an entire immersive world in a single frame, instead of using multiple shots from different camera angles that are later stitched together, as is commonly done. This is a radical innovation, as it allows for the streamlining, ease of use, and democratization of the digital dome medium.



Molecular Simulation: The many molecular environments in "Riding Snowflakes" are derived from accurate theoretical simulations (circa 2005). Generating the molecular worlds described in the screenplay entailed a wide range of challenges in statistical mechanics, molecular modeling, and simulation. To create a truly immersive portal into the nanoscale universe, required simulations of a massive scale and complexity, an entirely unusual request for the chemical and biological engineers and scientists involved in the project. Additionally, the creation of a believable, dynamic, and cinematic molecular landscape that visualizes the plot twists and dramatic tension of the story, posed a host of new creative challenges for the collaborating scientists. Their involvement in this work has brought about insights that will hopefully spark a breakthrough in the very real worlds of energy, environment, and health.
Data Driven Animation: Translating the vast amount scientific simulation data posed unique challenges for Molecularium's^™ CG animation team. The gigantic data sets generated by the incredible numbers of atoms in most scenes required innovative procedural animation techniques to enable the computers to process and render through an omnidirectional fisheye world-view. As a result of this new hybrid of simulation and animation, we see the atomic structures of the universe as never before. Atoms and molecules are rendered with reflections, refractions, texture, color, lighting, motion blur, and atmospheric volume. They are rendered to be as believable and real as the objects that they constitute.

Be sure to check out the trailer and have fun building molecules in the Molecularium™ Project's interactive kid's website.

» Click here to visit molecularium.com



Click on the images above to check out the TetraTops™ kits in our on-line store.

See also:
» domefest.org/
» sciss.se/
» scalingtheuniverse.com/
» fulldome.org
» visualbandwidth.com
» elumenati.com
» e-planetarium.com

Pillowdome presentation

Kirby addresses the Wanderers to talk about Buckminster Fuller, Geodesic Domes and Pillow-domes. Jay Baldwin also makes an appearance.



Click read more to view two other videos on Hypertoons (dynamic geometry modeling) and an OSCON presentation ...

Hypertoons!

Kirby Urner talks about how to generate Hypertoons using the Python programming language. Hypertoons involve geodesic models that generate and modify themselves.



OSCON 2005

Kirby Urner talking about some of his work done in Python, Synergetics and other Open Source related ideas.



» Read Kirby Urner's blog

By Jay Salsburg



Geodesic Math is a document representing a very good beginning for the novice investigator. This document is not simple but an elegant and reliable treatment of Geodesic Math in a scientific and geometrically graphic way without mathematical complexity.

» Click here to view the original document (PDF)

Crop formation at Avebury, Trusloe, sighted June 23rd, 2005

» Click here to view the field Report for Avebury, Trusloe. Friday, June 24th by Mike Callahan

By Aimee Cunningham of Science News



Researchers have discovered that gold can take the shape of nanoscale, hollow cages similar to carbon buckyballs. Lai-Sheng Wang of Washington State University in Richland, Xiao Cheng Zeng of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and their coworkers bombarded a piece of gold with a laser in a vacuum and studied the clusters that arose.

Typically, "metals like to form close-packed structures," says Wang. But when 16 to 18 atoms joined, they formed empty cages. The researchers don't yet know whether the gold-lattice cages would survive outside the vacuum, but placing a nongold atom within the 0.6-nanometer-diameter frames might stabilize them.

» Click here to read the full Article

from Chris Fearnley [SNEC]
The Synergetics Collaborative (SNEC), the Philomorphs, and the Foundation for New Directions are holding a one-day Seminar on "Synergetics 3" in Cambridge, MA, Saturday, 4 November 2006.
Location: Foundation for New Directions \ 93 Belmont Street \ Cambridge, MA 02138
Cost: $10 for lunch

RSVP Required (the space has a limited capacity of 25 people)

Please send me an e-mail before 1 November so that we can order enough food from the caterer.

Directions: will be provided upon RSVP receipt

Agenda
1. 8:30 AM - Sign-in, Meet and Greet
2. 9 AM - 10 AM - Attendee Introductions & Show-n-Tell (bring your work!) \ Moderated by CJ Fearnley
3. 10 AM - 11 AM - Organizing a joint Symposium on "Form and Synergetics" between the Synergetics Collaborative and the Philomorphs in 2007 \ - We need a venue, please bring your thoughts - We need volunteers to help with illions of details
4. 11 AM - 12 PM - Reviving the Philomorphs - What will it take?
5. 12 PM - 1 PM - Lunch
6. 1 PM - 3 PM - Synergetics 3, Marvin Solit
7. 3 PM - 5 PM - Discussion on Synergetics 3, Moderated by CJ Fearnley \ Reflections on Synergetics 3, Joe Clinton
8. 5 PM - 7 PM - Visiting Bucky's grave \ Dinner at a nearby Chinese Restaurant \ Unstructured discussions

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