Social Change Talks as part of the Z-Day event 12th March at Ceres

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Paul Szymkowiak

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Feb 9, 2011, 4:13:38 AM2/9/11
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Hi folks,

I've been communicating with Stuart Dobson about his interest in CCHS members doing some talks/ demonstrations as part of "Z-Day" on March 12th at Ceres Community Environment Park in Brunswick. See the initial email I received from Stuart below for more detail.

Current status is that Stuart is excited and very keen for any/ all of the possible topics I've suggested, which I'll include below.

I'm happy to talk to one or more of these: my questions to the group are a) who would be interested in doing a talk/ demo, or collaborating on one? b) if you're interested, given the brief provided by Stuart and/ or the topics I've proposed, what would you prefer to present on? 

Have a read and drop a reply to this thread or to me directly if you prefer.

Here are the topics/ briefs I suggested:

1) The Melbourne hackerspace
Connected Community Hacker Space (CCHS) is the general umbrella association (we're in the process of incorporating as a NFP) that has spawned or otherwise enabled some amazing things to happen here in Melbourne, and is now having impact globally. What we're doing seems very much aligned with the material you've sent. We're heavily into the maker movement, repurposing existing hardware to new uses, sharing ideas, educating and supporting the community.

A general talk about the organisation we are growing is one possibility.


2)  The Aiko project & the Internet of Things
This is one of the main collaborative projects being run through CCHS. Aiko provides an open source communications backbone to enable the Internet of Things: 

Essentially, Aiko enables small micro controllers to interact with 1) Sensors to connect them to the Internet to collate and display their data, and 2) Actuators that can receive commands through the Internet to control devices, appliances: turn them on/ off/ up/ down etc. Typically, we make the Internet gateway connection by repurposing a commercial wireless router.

A talk about Aiko and the Internet of things it enables is another possible talk.


3) Smart Energy Groups 
I'm working with Sam Sabey from Smart Energy Groups (SEG) to help build the SEG community. In a nutshell, SEG allows the power use in a premises to be monitored and controlled over the Internet: a home, a business, a community property. One of the exciting aspects of SEG is that it allows groups members to expose their data to others and foster a spirit of shared responsibility and positive competition.

A number of the elements of the Smart Energy Groups project grew out of the Melbourne hackerspace: it uses parts of Aiko as its backbone for communication, and the SEG meter itself is an open source hardware design created by a Melbourne hackerspace member.

Reducing energy use and giving the right tools to communities to affect that change, and the story of how Smart Energy groups is helping do that is another possible talk.


4) 3D Printing and the Maker revolution
If you haven't seen 3D printers, they're pretty cool. Essentially they take solid plastic rod, super heat it to melt it, and lay the molten plastic down based on a 3D pattern sent to the printer. This enables you to make a 3 dimensional object out of solid plastic.

3D printers are arguably the most public face of a broad-reaching movement that is essentially creating mini fabrication labs are affordable and accessible by small community groups, and individuals in their own home. Other machines include CNC Routers that cut 3D shapes out of a solid material, and Laser Cutters that can cut and etch plastic, wood and light metals. This equipment offers exciting possibilities for localised production, avoiding 1) the resources expended in (and carbon emissions associated with) the production, storage, shipping and distribution of mass-produced goods, and 2) custom crafted rather than "one-size-fits-all" production.  

Melbourne hackerspace members have a number of 3D printers and currently at least one working CNC router within the group. 

So, another possible talk :)


5) OpenPCR
Last year, I was one of the sponsors for the OpenPCR machine project on KickStarter
That sponsorship provides a first-release OpenPCR machine that will shortly be sent to us here in Melbourne.

Initially, I'd intended the machine to be an addition to the hackerspace, however after talking with some local biologists and genetics experts, I've teamed up with CSIRO education to donate the machine to their secondary schools programme. The machine is earmarked to ship as a kitset in February, and should take just an afternoon to assemble. However, at best it will be "early days" for the execution phase of this project by March 12th.

If you're interested to learn more about how PCR works, here's a little "virtual lab" tool:

The story of OpenPCR, Open Source Biotech and specifically the collaboration between Melbourne hackerspace and CSIRO would make an interesting story.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Stuart Dobson <stu...@stuartdobson.net>
Date: 9 February 2011 14:42
Subject: Social Change Talks
To: paul...@gmail.com


Hi Paul,

Thanks for your interest in doing a talk. The event I am helping to organise is Z-Day, which is an annual, worldwide event day that explores the possibilities of The Venus Project and helps to promote social change. There are hundreds of events held all over the world on the same day. This year it is being held on March the 12th at Ceres Community Environment Park in Brunswick.

We the Melbourne Chapter of the Zeitgeist Movement want to use this opportunity to bring together advocates of social change, as well as promote the concepts of sustainability to the masses. We're looking for people who would like to present a talk, performance, or some other form of art. Possible topics include sustainability, permaculture, technology, and social change, but we are open to suggestions that fit in with the direction of the Venus Project.

If you have not heard of the Venus Project I recommend taking a look, it advocates a society run according to the scientific evidence where technology is utilised for the benefit of all people. The excellent movie Zeitgeist Moving Forward is on YouTube in full if you haven't seen it. 

Rest assured, this event will be a fantastic opportunity to network with environmental organisations and social change activists. We are expecting an audience of over 400 people throughout the day.

Anyway, look forward to hearing what you had in mind,

Stuart


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