In December of 2006 I began my inquires on the formation of a study group on gravity modification at the University of Minnesota.  See document here: Download file.

In early 2007 I approached the  Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs’ Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy to initiate seminars and information sessions.  My hope was that these seminars would stimulate a dialog and eventually lead to a Gravity Modification Institute.

In my model the University’s branches in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester would each provide a connection to their local resources:  Rochester in medical applications, Duluth in space applications and the Twin Cities in public policy, urban design and product design applications. The structure of the Institute could be developed based upon that of the University’s Center for Nanostructured Applications (CNA), the Organization for Minnesota Nanotechnology Initiatives (OMNI) research center, the laboratory umbrella Minnesota Nano Technology Cluster (MiNTeC) and the Nanotechnology Coordinating Office.  These departments collaborate with the private sector’s Minnesota Nanotechnology Initiative (MNI) to provide a statewide foothold for the U of M’s world-class leadership in nanotechnology.

The interdisciplinary nature of gMOD research and applications make such a diverse approach essential to the success of the Institute.  Solidifying a University-wide strategy soon after the validated discovery of substantial gravitomagnetic effects allows the University to leapfrog other educational institutions by months, if not years.

Here is a preliminary suggestion of the framework for the Institute:

Title:   Gravity Modification Institute (alternatively, Center for Gravity Modification)

Location:    Under the Office of the VP of Technology

Partners and Collaborators: College of Design, Metropolitan Design Center, School of Physics, Center for Transportation Studies, University Metropolitan Consortium, Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy

Mission:  Understanding the interrelatedness of public policies, urban design, product development and social structures altered by the mass adoption of gravity modification (gMOD) technologies.

Campuses:  Minneapolis, Duluth and Rochester.

Proposed areas of investigation:

• Architecture (gravity-aided architecture, cantilever structures, complete load reduction, reinforcement and stabilization against wind, earthquake, flood);
• Legal (right to light, right to view, roaming rights);
• Structure Types (residential, barges, factories);
• Transportation (gravity-assisted transportation through load and friction reduction, gravityships, transportation corridors, transportation smart networks such as ITS);
• Space Applications (surface to low orbit payloads, disposal of orbital debris, orbital platforms, launch platforms, tug services, importing of raw materials);
• Industrial Applications (manufacturing processes, transport of liquids/granular materials, vacuumization, shielding from heat/sparks/particulates, containing gases for welding, force field windows, airfoil bodies);
• Laboratory (growth of defect-free crystals, metal alloy fabrication without sedimentation, centrifuging, electromagnetic optical lensing);
• Mining/Construction (hoisting, support walls, flood abatement);
• Medicine (hypergravity osteotherapy/sports conditioning, microgravity treatments for burns, circulatory, other);
• Safety and Rescue (recovery  from collapsed buildings, extraction from buildings, frozen lakes, cliffs, etc.);
• Sports (flying sports);
• Social Impacts (economic divides and dislocations);
• Semantics (slang and word usages);
• Public Policy (federal, regional, state and municipal regulation changes, residency, census data, demography, delivery of services);
• Security/Privacy (advertising, surveillance);
• Defense (clearing land mines, surveillance/reconnaissance);
• Dystopic Uses (terrorism, criminal intent, crowd control, religious zealotry, unethical military usage, unlawful surveillance, suppression of civil rights, extreme creative destruction, harmful byproducts, unappealing uses)

Unfortunately, neither the Institute for Public Affairs, College of Design nor the Institute of Technology have expressed an interest in the seminars and information sessions.  However, if the work of Tajmar, Droscher and Hauser gain interest later this year with their upcoming publications, perhaps there will be an opportunity to initiate such seminars early in 2009.