Announcing the 2011 Humanity+ Matching Challenge
Simon Laub
Thanks to a generous matching grant by the Life Extension Foundation and other major donors, if we raise $15,000 independently, we will secure a total of $30,000 in funding for Humanity+ this summer, enabling the organization to shift into a higher gear. Any gift you make to Humanity+ will be matched dollar-for-dollar until July 31st. Please help us take advantage of this opportunity.
It's been an exciting year for us at Humanity+. Our December conference at Caltech was a big success, and was mentioned in a TIME Magazine cover story. Our May conference at Parsons featured luminaries like public relations pioneer Howard Bloom and digital artist Scott Draves. We've gotten lots of cool new people on board, and are now hosting the Gada Prize, a $20,000 prize for better 3D printing technology. Ben Goertzel, our Chairman, also presented at Peter Thiel's Breakthrough Philanthropy event- the world's premier gathering for radical, technology-based charity to improve the human condition.
However, all of these things cost money - for web hosting, for travel, for food, for fees and taxes and prize funds. As a nonprofit, we recognize that without our donors and members, none of these things could have happened. We have some amazing people on the Humanity+ team, but at the end of the day, things can't get done without the funding to support them. By donating to Humanity+, you help provide critical funds to support projects like H+ Magazine, Humanity+ conferences, the Humanity+ newsletter and H+ Press.
New Projects Your Gift Will Support
DNA Synthesizer
Current synthesis machines cost tens of thousands of dollars, and each gene then costs about $300 per thousand base pairs. By using new technology to design a more efficient synthesizer, and then putting the blueprints online, we will allow anyone to test new ideas in genetics and biology for less than a tenth of the current cost.
Open Source Vision Processing for Intelligent Robots
New computer vision software for the OpenCog AI architecture will allow OpenCog AI to control and experiment with physical, real-world robots, in addition to virtual characters.
Student OutreachGrass-roots, future-oriented student groups at universities can influence critical-thinking young people at an important stage in their intellectual and career development.
What if there were a group of young, bright, energetic transhumanists traveling from university to university, holding one-day events on issues relating to science, technology, and society? A traveling band of young transhumanists to inspire students.
Humanity+ Conferences
Humanity+ conferences bring extraordinary people together from across the globe to discuss the ethical use of technology to expand human capacities. The discussions range from artificial general intelligence, to genetics, prosthetics, nanotechnology, life extension, cryonics, the singularity, global security, the environment, arts and entertainment. Humanity+ conference in Hong Kong this December will be the first-ever transhumanist conference in East Asia, and will help bring ideas which have primarily been developed by Western thinkers to over two billion people.
Humanity+ PR Initiative
We live at a fascinating and critical time in human history, when transhumanist ideas are rapidly moving into the mainstream media and the public eye. This presents both risks and opportunities. Humanity+ is working with experienced PR professionals to strategize methods for ensuring that this increase in publicity transpires in a positive way -- for example, by sending appropriate H+ Magazine articles to mainstream media sources.
