Foresight’s Director of Development and Outreach Desiree D. Dudley was featured recently on Singularity Hub talking about Foresight and nanotechnology. Topics addressed include Foresight’s series of dinner lectures, its upcoming technical conference, a new youth outreach program, Foresight’s relationship with the general futurist community, and the balance of emphasis on near-term nanotechnology and advanced molecular manufacturing. The interview led to a discussion of the role of synthetic biology in the development of nanotechnology, and the interfaces between the materials science and the biotechnology aspects of nanotechnology. The video is available on YouTube.
—James Lewis, PhD

Nano Outreach and Education in Ibero America

NanoDYF promotes nanoscience / nanotechnology outreach and education in Ibero America. The NanoDYF 2012 conference in Puebla, Mexico 2012 June 11 – 13, will draw together leaders in research, education, business, and politics to share discoveries and discuss objectives for this outreach. I will present on critical thinking about nanotechnology. More information is at http://www.nanodyf.org/ (use translate.Google.com if you don’t read Spanish). The NanoMex 2012 Conference runs immediately afterward, June 13 – 15, at the same location.

Buckyball Toy

Would you like a Buckyball model to hang from your ceiling? Trying to teach someone how hexagons and pentagons drive the shape of C₆₀? Would you like to see which size Buckyballs can form? Having trouble visualizing armchair and zig-zag carbon nanotubes? Would you like to let your mind wander while toying with shapes that carbon can form? About $3 lets you model a C₆₀. Buy 2 x $3 to model C₇₀, C₇₆, C₈₂, etc. Buy more to model carbon nanotubes.

These are not general purpose models. Each “carbon” is black plastic with 3 equally distributed bonding bumps in a plane and “bonds” are white plastic tubes that fit snugly over the bumps. One of the three bonds is an implied double bond, so if identifying it is important, a permanent marker is easiest. Spray-painting 1/3 of the tubes might look better. Diamond cannot be modeled with this kit, as it requires all four bonds exposed for tetrahedral bonding. Also, this kit is much smaller than the near-standard Prentice-Hall molecular modeling kits. It will not connect to those.

The model is easy to assemble, but holds together for hanging, handing around, or rolling on the floor. The least expensive I’ve found is at Suntekstore.com, which ships free out of Hong Kong. See here. If you would like to sponsor a school by providing a class-set of these kits, I would be happy to facilitate (aznar@foresight.org).

Swiss Children Learn Nano Fundamentals

The Switzerland-based Innovation Society has developed SimplyNano 1 (use translate.Google, if you don’t read German), an experiment kit being distributed to 7th – 10th grade classrooms in Switzerland. It focuses on nano dimensions, surfaces, and reactivity. It includes teaching guides plus materials to make a Lego + laser model of an atomic force microscope. Read a short article translated to English.

I have not received a kit yet, but if as good as it looks and priced reasonably, it could improve nano education in the US. When / if I can answer these questions in the affirmative, I will repost and welcome those who would like to sponsor a school for acquiring a set of these kits.

Miguel F. Aznar
Director of Education
Foresight Institute

A couple months ago we noted that Abundance, by Foresight Advisor Peter Diamandis and science writer Steven Kotler hit #1 on both Amazon and BarnesAndNoble. On Wednesday, April 11, Singularity University will present a live webcast with co-founder and chairman Peter H. Diamandis on Abundance:

Diamandis will present the case that the world is getting better at an accelerating rate through the convergence of four powerful forces: the exponential advancement of technology, DIY (Do It Yourself) innovators, Techno-philanthropists, and the Rising Billion, which, acting together, will create abundance in the areas of clean water, nutritious food, affordable housing, personalized education, top-tier global health care, and ubiquitous energy – helping to solve humanity’s biggest challenges.

Diamandis co-authored Abundance with award-winning technology writer Steven Kotler, bringing together decades of data and extensive interviews with hundreds of innovators and entrepreneurs, including Larry Page, Steven Hawking, Dean Kamen, Daniel Kahneman, Elon Musk, Bill Joy, Stewart Brand, Jeff Skoll, Ray Kurzweil, Ratan Tata, and Craig Venter.

The Wall Street Journal called Abundance “a manifesto for the future that is grounded in practical solutions.” The Economist Magazine said it was “a godsend for those who suffer from Armageddon fatigue!” Sir Richard Branson said: “Abundance provides proof that the proper combination of technology, people and capital can meet any grand challenge.”

Peter Diamandis co-founded Singularity University with Ray Kurzweil in 2008, and currently serves as its Chairman and a member of the Faculty. He is also Founder and Chairman of the X PRIZE Foundation, which leads the world in designing and launching large incentive prizes to drive radical breakthroughs in the areas of exploration, energy and environment, education, global development and life sciences. Diamandis is a leading speaker on innovation, counseling senior business leaders how to utilize exponential technologies and incentivized innovation to dramatically accelerate their business and career objectives. Dr. Diamandis earned a BS in molecular genetics and aerospace engineering from MIT, and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He is also known for “Peter’s Laws,” including “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself!”

Webcast participation requires registration. Questions can be submitted in advance or during the webcast via Twitter (#whichwaynext).
—James Lewis, PhD

Join us for an intellectually stimulating evening with best-selling author and tech analyst Sonia Arrison! Dinner and drinks will be served h’orderve/tapas-style at 7pm; Sonia will present at 8pm, with personalized, small-group Q&A on the future of technology to follow.

Wednesday March 21, 2012 at Ristorante Don Giovanni, 235 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041

This is a limited-audience event; to RSVP, please Paypal $40 to foresight@foresight.org at http://www.paypal.com/

SONIA ARRISON is a bestselling author and technology analyst who has studied the impact of new technologies on society for more than a decade. Her book, 100 PLUS: How the Coming Age of Longevity will Change Everything, From Careers and Relationships to Family and Faith, is a national bestseller and has been featured in top media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, MSNBC, Bloomberg News, Fox News, and the Today Show.

As a founder, academic advisor, and trustee of Singularity University, she is focused on exponentially growing technologies and their impact on society. She is also a Senior Fellow at the California-based Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy (PRI) and a columnist for TechNewsWorld. She is author of three books and numerous PRI studies and was also the host of a radio show called “digital dialogue” on the Voice America network.

What are reviewers saying about 100+?

NEW SCIENTIST
“Brilliant …. The chapters devoted to advances in regenerative medicine and the search for interventions that slow ageing are exhilarating. Growing new limbs, copying internal organs like a Xerox machine, exponential increases in computing power, better eyes and ears—I could read stories like this endlessly. We need such vision to help carry the science forward, and some of the most exciting advances in the scientific study of ageing are forthcoming. Arrison paints a realistic picture of the science driving the next longevity revolution, and makes the case that, if we play our cards right, humanity will reap huge dividends for the effort. In that way, this book is the most comprehensive treatment of the socioeconomic consequences of life extension that I’ve seen …. [T]he costs and benefits of life extension and, more importantly, health extension, are subjects in desperate need of open dialogue, and Arrison begins this process with elegance and style.”

WALL STREET JOURNAL
“Ms. Arrison entertainingly chronicles efforts to conquer aging and death from antiquity to today. Food, sex, exercise and alchemy have all been employed to keep the grim reaper at bay. But technology offers the most plausible route, she says, noting that biology and computing are drawing ever closer together with the sequencing of the human genome …. [Her] sunny outlook is infectious.”

SINGULARITY HUB
“Easy to read, and easy to understand, 100+ walks you through the incredible achievements in regenerative medicine we’ve already seen, projects them forward, and discusses the changes in environment, economy, family, and religion that will follow…. Arrison states her case strongly enough to convince almost anyone, and in a style that will be as accessible to your techno-phobic Uncle Walter as it is to your computer loving self.”

Remember, space is limited! To RSVP, Paypal $40 to foresight@foresight.org at http://www.paypal.com/

Since the dawn of humanity, a privileged few have lived in stark contrast to the hardscrabble majority. Conventional wisdom says this gap cannot be closed. But it is closing—fast. In Abundance, space entrepreneur turned innovation pioneer Peter H. Diamandis and award-winning science writer Steven Kotler document how progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, infinite computing, ubiquitous broadband networks, digital manufacturing, nanomaterials, synthetic biology, and many other exponentially growing technologies will enable us to make greater gains in the next two decades than we have in the previous two hundred years. We will soon have the ability to meet and exceed the basic needs of every man, woman, and child on the planet. Abundance for all is within our grasp. …

Providing abundance is humanity’s grandest challenge—this is a book about how we rise to meet it.

A preview of Chapter 1 and other information is available on the Abundance web site. Kudos to Diamandis and Kotler for showing why the future is brighter than it appears, and laying out a roadmap to get there.
—James Lewis

Foresight is proud to announce its next dinner lecture:

“Elucidating Bio-Nanomachines: Microscopies at the Atomic Scale”

Dr. Andrew Bleloch, Halcyon’s Head of Microscopy
Sakoon – 357 Castro St, Mountain View CA
Tuesday, August 30th, 7pm (drinks/mingling 6:30pm)

To RSVP, Paypal $35 to foresight@foresight.org by midnight Monday August 29th. http://www.paypal.com

As Head of Microscopy at Halcyon Molecular, Andrew applies the latest techniques in electron microscopy to the most important problem he’s ever had the privilege of tackling — cheap, fast, ubiquitous genome sequencing. Andrew will speak not just about microscopy as applied to DNA, but also other cutting-edge applications on the horizon.

Before coming to Halcyon, Andrew spent 17 years at Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, and 8 years running the UK’s SuperSTEM Laboratory at Daresbury in conjunction with a professorship at the University of Liverpool. His interdisciplinary work in electron microscopy has allowed him to publish professionally in a wide range of fields, including biology, chemistry, materials science and physics.

This intimate dinner talk is located at Sakoon, a modern fine dining establishment specializing in indian cuisine. It begins at 7pm, reception for cash bar drinks/mingling at 6:30.

Again, to RSVP, Paypal $35 to foresight@foresight.org by midnight Monday August 29th. Drinks are on your own tab! http://www.paypal.com

Thanks to all for a successful summer conference! We’re still hearing about some great connections and synergies made at the gathering that will help further transformative nanotech. With the addition of NASA-Ames Singularity University grad students, as well as 20Under20 Thiel Fellows, there was standing room only on Sunday afternoon; we intimately filled the 236-occupant venue room, with overflow chat in the hall ‘Alley’. Some quotes that rolled in just hours after the conference was over:

• “Great weekend spent with brilliant minds sharing their plans and hopes for nanotech in the future.” —Louise Gold, Institute for Optimal Living
• “Excellent speakers and a great opportunity to share ideas with like-minded attendees.” —Stephen Fowkes, Nanopolymer Systems
• “Great conference, and especially a great set of speakers!” —Bruce Smith, Nanorex
• “Engaging for me, a good two days. Well worth the time and money.” —Robert Chew, Private Investor, Singapore
• “One of the best I have attended – informative, interesting, and definitely worth the trip.” —Ravi Pandya, MS Seattle, donor since 1990
• “Awesome conference. Just about all presentations were top notch. Please keep doing this.” —Peter Voss, Smart Action AI
• “Awesome conference, great discussions with very interesting people!” —Dr. Randal Koene, Halcyon Molecular
• “A very meaty program (with very healthy snacks!)” —John Chisholm, CEO
• “Had an awesome time! +++ will visit another conference from this team!” —Paul Bohm, Founder of Mjam GmbH & BBQ
• “Inspiring!” —Lerwin Liu, Nanostart and Zyvex Asia
• “Best meeting of minds I’ve ever been a part of.” —David Atkins-Maters, Nanomaterials & Nanomedicine Research Lab, UCSD

Want to see the video? We’re in the process of putting together more elegant video for the conference, but in the meantime you can see recordings of the free webcast via Ustream (with ads) here:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/foresightinstitute

Photos have been posted by Eric Messick here! http://www.syzygy.com/images/2011.06.24_Foresight_25th/images/index.html

Special Thanks again to all the fantastic speakers, supporters, sponsors and also especially volunteers, notably including: Monica Anderson, Chris Rasch, Max Marty, Michael Anissimov, Miron Cuperman, Chris Hibbert, Eric Messick, Peter Norvig and all the Google staff for making a wonderful event.

Want to help with the next conference? We at Foresight are leaning towards a more technical conference/workshop next, and are open to expert suggestions on how to optimally contribute to the field with our activities. Contact desiree@foresight.org to help shape and support our next major event.

So…

Inspired by emerging technologies? Local? Responsible, organized, meticulous about detail? Come help us try to change the world.

1) Office Manager/Coordinator:

The person who fills this crucial role will be involved in day-to-day operations and administrative tasks related to the Institute, including:

• mail and office maintenance
• bookkeeping and database support
• answering and making outbound calls
• event and program coordination

Friendly, energetic yet even-keeled individuals with meticulous attention to detail and excellent verbal/written communication skills are encouraged to apply. Special bonus if you have Quickbooks experience, and/or you think you would enjoy reaching out to interact professionally and personally with Institute supporters during fundraising season.

2) Operations Management:

This roles specializes in program/project management and finance. This person is the operational ‘right-hand’ of Foresight’s directors and president, someone dedicated to helping us translate our vision of transformative nanotechnology into solid, objectively successful results.

Major responsibilities include:

• management and effective execution of Foresight programs, projects and special events (including conferences, lecture dinners, prizes and more)
• strategic financial projection, planning and analysis (Quickbooks+)
• overseeing and streamlining all organizational operations, including HR management, bookkeeping, accounting, and website/database enhancements (IT management experience a plus)
• recruiting and managing personnel as appropriate

This role requires an exceptional balance of solidarity and adaptability: someone who won’t just endure, but who will take great pleasure in building and streamlining truly effective infrastructure for a small, spunky non-profit in the process of updating itself.

Both positions are:

• flexible, with potential for part-time telecommuting
• part-time contracts to start, but for the right person can evolve into full-time employment with insurance coverage; may also be filled together by one exceptional person
• ideally filled by candidates who are deeply passionate about Foresight’s vision of transformative nanotechnology
• crucially important to supporting our cause!

To apply, please send a resume and a brief statement of interest to desiree@foresight.org.

Either submit your own work or nominate a colleague who deserves this prize. Submissions or nominations are due September 30, 2011.
Submission/nomination instructions.