ACTION ALERT: Nanofactory Animation Challenge Grant Please Respond by November 15

From: Foresight Institute (foresight_at_foresight.org)
Date: 10/29/04 

Date: 29 Oct 2004 22:55:17 GMT

Dear Member of the Foresight Community,

Visualizing nanotechnology and nanosystems, in particular,
is a major challenge in communicating the
power of this technology.

A highlight at the 1st Conference on Advanced Nanotechnology held in
Washington DC was the premier of "Productive Nanosystems: from
Molecules to Superproducts," a computer-generated animated short film.

This four-minute film is a collaborative project of animator and
engineer, John Burch, and pioneer nanotechnologist, Dr. K. Eric
Drexler. The film depicts an animated view of a nanofactory and
demonstrates key steps in a process that converts simple
molecules into a billion-CPU laptop computer.

These steps include the sorting of molecules, precise atomic construction
through the use of placement tools, and the assembly of smaller parts
into larger parts. Scenes depicting initial tool preparation show molecular
reactions based on computational quantum chemistry, and later stage
manufacturing processes are based on industrial processes found in
large-scale factories.

The premiered version, v0.8, of "Productive Nanosystems: from Molecules
to Superproducts" received great applause and was screened, by popular
request, two additional times during the conference. This film will make
tremendous strides in the education of students, researchers, policy
makers and members of the media in the understanding of nanosystems.

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ANIMATION CHALLENGE GRANT

Thanks to Mark Sims, President of the nano-CAD software company,
Nanorex. Foresight Institute has a $10,000 challenge grant running
through November 15, 2004. This means that every dollar donated by
others up to this total will be doubled.

This grant will ensure completion of the project and will enable broad
distribution of the final version over the Internet. All proceeds from the
grant will go toward the completion and upgrade of the film.

A sample of the animation can be seen below, and the estimated
completion date is early 2005.

Slide show:
http://www.foresight.org/lizardfire/nanofactorySS.html

Animated clip:
http://www.foresight.org/animation_challenge/nanofactory_360x240copyright_sor3.mov

Attendees of the conference have matched approximately half of the
grant, and we're asking you to help with the other half. Please go to
http://www.foresight.org/animation_challenge/
to see the progress of the challenge grant,

======================
DONATE NOW:

Contribute online at this secure form:
https://snow.he.net/%7Eforesite/DonationForm.html
Click on "not a membership, but another donation button"
Enter: "Animation Completion" in the purpose of this donation field

Or if you want to send in your donation by US post or fax
Go to this form, print out and send
http://www.foresight.org/FI/Donation.html (print and fax)

Donations are tax deductible in the United States. Large donors may have
the opportunity to have their name or logo place on the final credit scroll
of the completed film.

======================
ABOUT NANOREX

Nanorex, Inc, is based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and was incorporated
in April 2004. The mission of Nanorex is to develop the world's best 3-D
molecular engineering software needed to realize the full potential of
molecular nanotechnology. Nanorex has seven employees and is led by
Mark Sims, President and J. Storrs Hall, PhD., Chief Scientist.

The tentative release of Nanorex's first product, nanoENGINEER-1 is
targeted for Summer 2005. For more information about Nanorex send an
email to info@nanorex.com.

======================
CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTORS

The premier of "Productive Nanosystems: from Molecules to
Superproducts" was so well received several attendees at the 1st
Conference on Advanced Nanotechnology immediately donated toward
the film's completion.

Here is a partial list of donors:

Doug Arends
Jennifer Ash
Brett Belmore
David DeGroote
Jason Force
Ed Hippo
Paras Kaul
Andrew Keane
Charles Kellogg
John Lobell
Sergio Martinez de Lahildago
Tom McKendree
David Moore
James Moore
Michael Stollmeyer
Philip Thorn
Gregory Trochina
Will Ware
Linda Wolin
Robert Zeches

======================

Thank you for your continued support, if you have any questions about
this challenge grant, please contact foresight@foresight.org

Sincerely,

Foresight Institute

======================

Foresight Institute
PO Box 61058
Palo Alto, CA 94306 USA
tel +1 650 917 1122
fax +1 650 917 1123
foresight@foresight.org
http://www.foresight.org

******************************************

Foresight Institute is the leading think tank and
public interest organization focused on
nanotechnology. Formed in 1986 by K. Eric Drexler
and Christine Peterson, Foresight dedicates itself
to providing education, policy development, and
networking to maximize benefits and minimize
downsides of molecular manufacturing.