Education

• University of California at Berkeley A.B. 1975 (Physics and Mathematics)
• Harvard University, Cambridge, 1975-76 (Physics)
• University of California at Berkeley Ph.D. 1976-80 (Physics)

Bio:

Philip Lubin is a professor of Physics at UC Santa Barbara whose primary research has been focused on studies of the early universe in the millimeter wavelengths bands as well as applications of directed energy for planetary defense and relativistic propulsion. His group has designed, developed and fielded more than two dozen ground based and balloon borne missions and helped develop two major cosmology satellites. His group has worked on applications of directed energy systems for both small scale single launcher solutions as well as large standoff systems for planetary defense and on applications to allow small interstellar probes. He is co-recipient of the 2006 Gruber Prize in Cosmology along with the COBE science team for their groundbreaking work in cosmology. He has published more than 300 scientific papers.

Why Humanity Chip:

In all of us there exists a still small voice that urges us to look to the profound in life. To see the potential to change the world and the way we exist in it and to aspire to leave behind our daily toil and uplift our voices to the greater good. The Humanity Chip project aspires to give every person a chance to express those desires of wonder in life in whatever form they will it within themselves. We want to give everyone on the Earth a chance to be not only heard but to be immortalized in their own words, to represent the very best humanity can be. We hope you will join us in this desire to not only speak but to listen to that still small voice in others. Together we can aspire to and accomplish the profound in life.

Bio:

My name is Travis Brashears. I am an Engineering Physics and Pre-Business double major at UC Berkeley. I have done two years of research on directed energy applications at UC Santa Barbara. I have published two papers as first author in this area and also have devised one of the first “spacecraft on a chip” in my third paper. I am now pursuing High Powered Rocketry and am on the Aerodynamics team for the Cal Solar Car Team at UC Berkeley.

Why Humanity Chip:

I find it extremely interesting that during the race to the moon in the late 1900’s that humans were extremely excited about going to the moon and exploring space. This excitement has died down ever since we reached the moon and our space program has failed to do any exciting launches since. Now with SpaceX talking about going to Mars, the excitement is coming back! But they are missing the same thing that NASA was missing when going to the moon. They forget about everyone on earth and their desire to go into space and explore with the spacecraft. With the Humanity Chip we will be able to capture a digital profile for everyone on Earth and send it up to space and eventually to another planet! This is the most amazing thing in my mind, since technology has reached the point where we can actually do this!

I am an electrical engineering student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. At UCSB, in addition to all of my classes (which I love), my favorite project has been researching the effects and applications of a proposed space laser (DE­STAR.com). As a videographer, I have a passion for both the technical and storytelling aspects of filmmaking.

Why Humanity Chip:

Communication is key. We all long for connection. The Humanity Chip not only connects us to space, it also connects us together. Since Phil first told me about this project, I have been motivated by its potential to achieve this goal. I love getting to work on a collaborative project with all of humanity and not just give everyone an opportunity to speak to space, but connect humankind in a profound way.

As an information scientist, I entertain the notion that information is never lost in our universe; rather, it dissipates and picks up entropy, usually becoming increasingly difficult to decode over time and space. Nonetheless, humans have proudly invented ways to preserve and sustain information by encapsulating it in mechanisms or mediums that resist an otherwise natural rate of decay. I find solace in the idea of producing a digital footprint of humanity that will live on for much longer than we’ve been around. It is humbling to try to appreciate the inconceivable size of our universe. Being part of this enormous system that fosters
consciousness fuels my curiosity about nature and space, and drives my devotion to science and technology. I dream of distant galaxies and their potential for intelligent life; wondering if some echo of humanity will be ever heard.

Bio blurb:

I studied Computer Science at UC Santa Barbara where I seized opportunities to collaborate with researchers in the Physics, Geography and Computer Science domains as an undergraduate. I have dedicated most of my academic time to research projects in the pursuit of innovation. Now a graduate student, I’m earning my Master’s degree in Geographic Information Science before continuing on to a PhD.

Bio:

I am a Pre-engineering, Physics, and Mathematics major at Spring Arbor University. Currently I am pursuing my education at Spring Arbor and work in the UCSB Experimental Cosmology lab with Phil, Travis, and Jonathan. My graphics background is from humble roots as a high schooler who just loved yearbooks. At Spring Arbor University I handle all media for the Track and Field team as well as media for many other collegiate and intramural sports on campus.

 

Why Humanity Chip:

While working with Phil and Travis in the summer of 2016 I found myself creating a few different graphics for the University’s experimental cosmology website. After a few creations, Travis introduced me to the Humanity Chip idea and it was immediately interesting to me. As a child I was fascinated with space travel, I am pretty sure I have seen every History Channel documentary on the Apollo and Shuttle missions. Pushing the limits of indirect and direct human space travel is something I am extremely interested in and the Humanity Chip mission is doing just that. Through graphics I can help this dream become a reality by demonstrating our ideas in a simple and clean manner that everyone can understand and connect with.