time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological damage or disadvantage to anyone?” It is unique also in its urgency as a ‘command-and-control’ center. High speed computers enabled the space program. The WRSC will bring science and technology fully to bear on today’s complex challenges. Global leaders in business, governments, universities and NGOs, using cutting edge visualization and simulation technologies, can easily explore future scenarios, creatively design sustainable solutions and recognize new commercial opportunities. This visualization and simulation infrastructure will provide access to globally distributed data on world resources, cultures, markets, global trends and conditions to facilitate policies, strategies and sustainable choices informed by science for the common good. The WRSC has four major functions: • Resource and demand assessment • Long range forecasting and trend analysis • Visualization and simulation to facilitate informed decision making • Education and facilitation for decision makers in business and governments as well as students The WRSC takes advantage of current and evolving technology which converts vast amounts of data into clear, visual information, layered and displayed as 4-D map projections. A visual proof of concept demonstration was developed by Global Energy Network Institute (GENI) interns using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping tools to visualize global energy use vs. environment and development indicators. (This Web Map Server tool is now available on www.geni.org, under Multimedia, GENI Related Animations). Visualization ‘wizards’ at San Diego State University have marveled that our presentation of global issues has not been accomplished previously. Presentation of this demonstration at the International Society for Digital Earth earned rave reviews and endorsements for partnership and

Describe the current stage of your initiative and your implementation plan over the next three years

Since the WRSC is born of the thinking of Buckminster Fuller, it was critical to share the proposal with the Buckminster Fuller Institute Board and earn their support. This was done during the announcement of the Buckminster Fuller Challenge Grant in New York this summer (2008).

Next, a visual proof of concept demonstration was developed by GENI interns. It visualizes, through layering, global energy use vs. environmental conditions and human development indicators, as previously mentioned. Relationships are stark. This kind of visual evidence of impacts makes decision making more potent and has attracted experts to join us, as it did at the 2008 IEEE Power Conference.

A business and marketing plan, website, and presentation materials are near completion. GENI is currently seeking partnerships with key technical experts, thought leaders and institutions. These partners add organizational and intellectual depth to the WRSC core team as we prepare to seek needed funding. Whether it be a reputable, technically compatible academic institution or a corporation, the location and collaborative format for the Center will be determined by who those partners are. Over the next three years our focus is on pursuing those partnerships and funding and thereby determining just how this facility will unfold.

Prize monies will enable the process of seeking partnerships (travel and collateral material), continuing work on layering data using GIS mapping tools and for accessing fee-based datasets. Finally, it will accelerate the process of finding funding for the project.

Describe how your strategy meets the entry criteria ("What We're Looking For")

The WRSC describes ‘an integrated strategy dealing with key social, economic, environmental, and cultural issues.’ As Bucky’s brainchild, it is comprehensive in bringing together and creating tools that allow viewers to “see” relationships previously concealed. By nature it is anticipatory in its design to gather decision makers to use visualization and simulation to foresee future scenarios and consequences. From the building design to the focus questions, ecological responsibility is assumed by the core question housed in this facility. The technology which the WRSC will bring together exists and creates challenges for innovation (datasets require a special format for this work). One of the measures which will track our effectiveness is the Keeling Curve and will provide the empirical test of our efficacy. It is our intent that once modeled, this facility will be duplicated in critical locations globally to encourage its continual use for problem solving of the highest order.

Describe the qualifications and experience of you and/or your team and your ability to execute your implementation plan

Peter Meisen, President of the Global Energy Network Institute, a non-profit research and education organization since 1989, was entrusted by Tom Turner with Bucky’s plans for the WRSC. GENI has successfully advocated for the interconnected global grid linking renewable resources that we now see unfolding. WRSC is next.

WRSC’s start-up team has extensive experience in the fields of technology, environment and global issues and each has expressed a commitment to the creation of this facility:

• Josh Arnow - innovative research and active support of sustainability organizations
• Michael Ben-Eli - international consultant on management and organization
• Dr. Kirk Bergstrom - media promotion of energy and sustainability projects
• Bonnie Devarco, - online education consultant, visualization technologies, past archivist for BFI,
• Joe Sterling - consultant and strategic planner

Working with Eric Frost and John Graham at San Diego State University’s Visualization Lab and an intern with GIS capabilities, we produced a prototype energy visualization (available at www.geni.org). Eric and John noted the unique nature of this application to compare critical issues. It was presented at the 2008 IEEE Power Conference. We have a growing list of IT experts and comprehensive thinkers working with us.