Local entrepreneur brings 20th century inventor’s idea to fruition
World Resources Simulation Center brings the world closer
By Manny Lopez | Downtown News July 6th, 2013
Renowned 20th century inventor and futurist Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller’s vision of a control room to help steer “spaceship earth” toward a better future is alive and thriving today, within a ground-floor office in Downtown San Diego’s Westgate Hotel.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"9777","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"360","style":"line-height: 1.5; float: left;","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"480"}}]]Guided by Peter Meisen, founder and president of the Global Energy Network Institute (GENI) — a non-profit that advocates the strategy of linking renewable energy resources globally — the World Resources Simulation Center (WRSC) represents a new tool for answering a question posited by Fuller more than 50 years ago.
Founder Peter Meisen in his modern day "war room." As part of his World Game project — an alternative to war games — Fuller asked, “how to make the world work for 100 percent of humanity in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation without ecological damage or disadvantage to anyone.”
“We’ve created a facility so that people can gather in a neutral, collaborative environment to immerse themselves into any topic,” Meisen stated. “Using the latest technology, people can visualize and study the trends, projections and consequences of different strategies, so that ultimately decision makers and planners can make informed and sustainable choices on important issues quicker.”
According to Meisen, the WRSC is based on an interpretation of a typewritten and hand drawn proposal done by Fuller before the equipment for its design ever existed. Within 4,000 square-feet of what was once a U.S. National Bank branch office, 12 large display screens, connected to separate laptops, in a 270 degree array and spread out over three walls gives everyone in the room a direct multi-aspect view of any issue.
“It’s all about visualizing a topic on either a global or local scale by surrounding you in a multi-layered environment of trends, percentages, images and maps,” Meisen said. “We understand things that we see and hear much better and then we can make collaborative decisions that benefit everyone.”
Meisen hopes the WRSC will help advance GENI’s work in accelerating the development and investment in renewable energy resources around the world, he said. The genesis of GENI began in Meisen’s bedroom more than 25 years ago after reading page 206 from Fuller’s book Critical Path , published shortly before the author’s death in 1983.
“It said that the number one strategy for the world was to link grids globally and tap renewables at scale and provide clean electricity for everybody,” Meisen explained. “That’s no small statement if you understand Bucky Fuller.”
Students from universities all around the world do the research and create reports that are then made available by GENI to energy, utility and environmental ministers from various countries. Many of the students possess backgrounds that include engineering, environmental studies and international affairs.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"9778","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"300","style":"line-height: 1.5; float: right;","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"203"}}]]
Tania Soares, a graduate of Cranfield University in the United Kingdom with a degree in Oceanography and Marine Biology, has authored a paper on whether or not the U.K. can go 100 percent renewable by 2020.
“I’ve learned a lot of new skills and there’s almost nothing that I can’t learn and apply here at GENI,” she said. “This paper is going to be sent to decision-makers and I feel that the work I’ve done can make a real difference.”
Sebastian Hanna of Lebanon, a UCSD graduate with a degree in Environmental Systems and Policy, is working on a similar paper for Sweden. “GENI is helping to create the thinkers of tomorrow,” Hanna said. “If people were more GENI minded, the world would be a better place.”
Since establishing the non-profit organization in 1991, Meisen said he has travelled around the world to speak at energy conferences and United Nations Summits. GENI has earned the endorsements of seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates and been featured on the covers of dozens of magazines.
The WRSC can be reserved for private or public occasions and various levels of membership programs for individuals, institutions, non-profits, organizations and corporations are available. A monthly calendar lists movies, discussion groups, lectures and other events happening at the WRSC.
Starting July 6 and running through Aug. 24, a lunchtime discussion series entitled High Noon will be conducted on Mon., Wed., and Fri. from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the WRSC located at 1088 3rd Ave. More than 20 topics are expected to be discussed, ranging from climate change, deforestation, maritime issues, education, and illegal drugs.
More information on the World Resources Simulation Center can be found at www.wrsc.org. Information on the Global Energy Network Institute can be found at www.geni.org, or by calling 619-234-1088.
