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John Allen, conceiver, inventor, and co-founder of the Biosphere 2 project located just outside of Tucson, Arizona, USA, is known for his cross-cutting talents as a macro-level systems thinker: a dreamer, analyst, and engineer of the highest order.
Recognized as one of the greatest technological wonders of the world, Biosphere 2 is a classic example of Allen’s vision. An experimental setting about which most can only dream, Biosphere 2 (seen below) was the first known attempt to create a life-supporting, fully enclosed and controlled sustainable environment. In its launching event, eight scientists lived for two years in the enclosure, breaking the world record previously held by Allen.
Biosphere 2, Oracle, Arizona, USA
(Credit: Global Ecotechnics)
Born in Oklahoma, Allen’s expertise in the fields of biospherics and ecological design have led him to found and lead a broad variety of initiatives. Formerly Executive Chairman and Director and Vice President of Biosphere 2 Research, Development, and Engineering for Space Biospheres Ventures, Allen is currently Chairman of the Global Ecotechnics Corporation, an "international project development and management company owning and managing several sustainable ecological research projects at: Birdwood Downs, Australia (pastoral regeneration); Las Casas de la Selva (rainforest project) Puerto Rico; Les Marronniers Conference Center and Provencal farm, France; and the October Gallery, London, England (art from the transvanguard). Studies on ocean biome and ethnospheres conducted on research ship Heraclitus (www.rvheraclitus.org). In addition, Global Ecotechnics Biospheres Division is designing and building advanced biospheric systems, semi-enclosed biomic systems, integrated with advanced data based cybernetic systems [and is] now designing of Modular Biospheric Systems for Earth and Space including [a] Mars Prototype Biosphere Base." (From: Allen's online CV)
Allen will be joining the e-conference from his station in the Australian Outback, where he has just arrived from Colombo, Sri Lanka, after meeting yet another of his awe-inspiring projects, the Research Vessel Heraclitus, built by the Institute of Ecotechnics in 1975. The RV launched from Cairns, Australia last autumn on its 10th major expedition, "Coral Sea to Aegean Sea". It's goal: "a return to the source of the philosophical beginnings of the Heraclitus in Greece, and the home of its namesake, the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Heraclitus". Designed for deep ocean sailing and coral reef and river research, this unique vessel, the first of its kind, takes a timeless approach to navigation:
The routes, ports-of-call, and anchorages of the Heraclitus are designed to carry out the expedition goals of the Heraclitus by working with the planetary patterns of winds, waves, and currents. Satisfying the thirst for challenging conditions and the opportunity for creative interactions, the Heraclitus' crews learn to cooperate with the so-called forces of nature that drive the geosphere.
The Research Vessel Heraclitus
(Credit: Institute of Ecotechnics)
The Heraclitus specializes in visiting locations almost impossible to reach by any other means, demonstrating that there is no lack of interesting places yet to explore. Its unique design combining an ancient three-masted junk rig with modern materials and equipment, striking appearance of black hull and red deck, and engaging crew, have enabled it to make friendly and creative contact with a myriad of cultures where ever it has sailed, and found an anchorage or a dock. (From: http://www.rvheraclitus.org/seatrain.html)
A Renaissance man in the truest sense, Allen’s inventive endeavors have crossed scientific, cultural, and artistic boundaries, from his high-tech research on biospherics, to his sociocultural focus on ethnospherics, to creative writings under his alter-ego pen name, Johnny Dolphin.
John Allen on site at Biosphere 2
The EcoRes Forum is proud to welcome John Allen to the April 2007 E-Conference Panel of Experts, and wishes to recognize his inspirational efforts.
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