New speakers
We are pleased to announce two additional speakers in the engineering track: Dominique Roddier from MI&T will speak about their ClubStead design which TSI commissioned, and Miguel Lamas Pardo, an ocean engineering PhD student from Spain (likely doing his thesis on seasteads) will talk about Flotel accomodations for oil rigs. In addition, board member Ajay Royan will be giving a talk, most likely about jurisdictional arbitrage and breaking the world’s great cartels.
Referral Bonus!
There is still space available at the conference, so we have decided to offer referral bonuses to existing attendees. For each new attendee you refer, we will discount (or refund) $50 of your admission fee for regular attendees, and $25 for student attendees. There is no cap on this – refer enough people and we will pay you to attend the conference! We’re doing everything we can think of to promote the conference, but personal invitations are much more powerful, so please spread the word among people you think might be excited to attend! We’ve added a “Who referred you?” field in the registration flow, so just have them put your name there and we’ll get you your cash.
Register Now!
Don’t miss our incredible lineup of speakers, the chance to network and brainstorm with like-minded people who combine grand vision with solid practicality, and an opportunity to participate in a movement that will change the world! So if you haven’t registered yet, register today!
Simulation
The conference will feature a unique seasteading simulation on Wednesday morning, where participants will take on roles such as “Japanese Corporate Investor”, “American Libertarian Billionaire”, and “Cruise Line Executive”, each with different goals and resources. Through a series of rounds, players will form teams to collaborate on seastead designs, locations, and business models. Completed projects will then face various random events (hurricanes, pirates, trade embargoes) and if they survive, will score points for their residents and investors. Created just for us by veteran game designer Neil Laughlin, the simulation will be a fun, interactive, and educational experience!
Unconference
In addition to the formally scheduled events, the last two hours of Tuesday, September 29 have been reserved for audience driven “unconference” talks. So far, seven people have signed up for unconference talks ranging from modular seasteads to Heathian anarchy. The talks with the most votes will be given speaking slots, so cast your votes before September 21, and sign up to give a talk today!
Ephemerisle
Ephemerisle is our first-ever floating festival, held just after the conference. Check out the third Ephemerisle Newsletter, which includes pictures of our first round of grant recipients and other news. The latest Ephemerisle newsletters and updates can always be found on the Ephemerisle blog.
Conference Volunteers Needed!
Please note, minimum requirements are stated for volunteer needs, but the more the better – more volunteers means shorter shifts! Please let us know if you are willing to do an all day shift both days, a partial day shift both days, an all day shift one of the days, or a partial day shift one of the days. We really appreciate your help and are looking forward to spending time with you!
SPEAKER TRANSPORT:
We need 1 -2 volunteers with valid insurance and valid CA driver’s license to volunteer to pick up and drop speakers at the airport, or between venues. Some of the needs include but are not limited to the following:
Monday, 2:20 pm SFO pick up and transport to Cathedral Hill Hotel Monday, 6:30 pm Cathedral Hill Hotel to Reception and back Tuesday, No offsite events have been scheduled Wednesday, from Cathedral Hill Hotel to Open Board meeting and back Wednesday, SFO airport run Thursday, 11 a.m. from Cathedral Hill Hotel to SFO
SLIDE MASTERS:
We need (at least) 2 volunteers Tuesday, and 2 on Wednesday (one person can cover a shift on both days!). We want to have one person in each conference room to man the computers that have the slides. These volunteers need to be savvy enough to know how to operate troubleshoot both Keynote and PowerPoint on a Mac or PC with remote slide advancers. Bonus points if you can also donate a laptop for use. The plan is to have two computers in each room, with both computers loaded with the slide sets from all the speakers for that room. The Slide Master will help keep track of who is speaking next and load their slide deck, alert the current speaker when there are 3 minutes, 1 minute and 0 minutes left to speak, and will be the person that the speaker checks in with 10-15 minutes before their talk. You will be in frequent communication with the Speaker Wrangler. (you cannot be a slide master and a speaker wrangler at the same time)
Tuesday Room A 9 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. with breaks Tuesday Room B 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with breaks Wednesday Room A 9 a.m. – 4:30 pm with breaks Wednesday Room B 9 a.m. – 3:30 pm with breaks
SPEAKER WRANGLERS:
We need (at least) 2 volunteers Tuesday, and 2 on Wednesday, it can be the same person both days, one in each conference room to help the speakers get their designated rooms 10 minutes before their talk starts and help them get mic’d up etc. Ideally 2 people for the a.m. shift (one for each room) and 2 people for the p.m. shift (one for each room) and 2 people for the unconference portion. However two people are welcome to work all day, it can be done! (You cannot be a speaker wrangler and slide master at the same time)
Tuesday Room A 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with breaks Tuesday Room B 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with breaks Wednesday Room A 9 a.m. – 4:30 pm with breaks Wednesday Room B 9 a.m. – 3:30 pm with breaks
REGISTRATION RAYS:
We need 3-4 people for a variety of days. We would like people at all facets of the event to help people check in, sign waivers (and keep track of who has signed), register and pay for the conference the day of, upgrade conference level, and purchase memberships.
Monday, 7 p.m. 1 hour, registration for reception (limited) and conference; 1 person Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m., 2 people at the registration table. Tuesday 10 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. with breaks, 1 person at the registration table, at 2:45 a sign goes up that tells people to find someone with a staff badge. Wednesday 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. with breaks, 1 person at the registration table, then a sign goes up that tells people to find someone with a staff badge.
MERCHANDISE MANATEES:
If we have 1-2 volunteers, and enough merchandise, we can make this happen. Volunteers would need decent math skills (or a calculator), the ability to write clearly to provide receipts, and a desire to sell stuff for TSI. Mostly T-shirts, possibly books.
Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.; 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.; 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.; 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
SET-UP STARFISH:
If you’re interested, we’d like some people to help set up Tuesday Morning around 7:30 a.m., we will discuss what needs to be done in advance. The Hotel will set up the registration table and chairs. This would mostly be banners, and object placement etc. And to help us take down and pack up anything Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
A/V ALLSTAR:
We need one person to help Alexis Bright, the event coordinator, go over and test the slides the Thursday before the conference, to make sure all of the equipment will run the slides etc, and to know tech stuff, like which dongle goes with which projector etc, as well as to help the Slide Masters and Sam, the Hotel’s A/V Specialist with whatever their technical needs may be all day Tuesday and Wednesday.
FOTO FISH:
Anyone that wants to volunteer to take pictures of the event is welcome to. We ask that you send us a link to wherever you post your pictures and tag them with tsi2009, and it would be super swell if they were creative commons.
FILM FROGS:
We would also love 2 people to man the cameras in each room, basically this just means change and label the tape after every speaker, and if the speaker is moving around a lot on stage, track them with the camera. It may be possible for a slide master or speaker wrangler to fulfill this role at the same time they are fulfilling their other role.
Additionally, anyone that wants to film the event is welcome to. We ask that you send us a link to wherever you post your video or send us a copy and tag them with tsi2009, and it would be super swell if they were creative commons, and that you give us permission to use on our website or for promoting the Institute.
