97 replies to this topic

[Infernity]

Good luck guys, who gets the writing job?

BTW, you should call Lior and see if he is interested in coming.

-Infernity

[ilia]

Thanks, Alex, Gil. Looking forward to seeing you.

Adi, I did send an invite to Lior and he said he is probably coming (see our latest “tfuzat NATO”.

[Infernity]

Oh, very well then. I look forward hearing how it was.

If anyone wonders why I won't be able to be there, that's because all the biology students (and geology, which doesn't apply to me anyways), go out to some ecological camp or something that sounds quite boring heh, anyways, it is applying from the 13th to the 16th eve... You can figure out why I probably won't make it to the 17th, after all we return a long way back and all etc.


-Infernity

[ilia]

Dear all,

I am delighted to report on the first Israeli seminar on Transhumanism/Immortalism that took place yesterday in Bar-Ilan.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who attended:
Eli (a student of electrical engineering at Tel Aviv University), Adi (Infernity, a high school student from the “Far South”. Thank you for the effort you made to come. We were all delighted to see you!), Daniel (a business school graduate, now entering the exciting field of bio-engineering), David (an entrepreneur and public activist), Olga (a linguist and an artist), Yoni (a student of interdisciplinary studies at Tel Aviv University. Welcome to the group!), meself Ilia (a technical writer and a student of the history of science), Danny (a stem cell researcher), Danny’s wife Ana (a biophysicist).

The presentations on the History of Life Extensionism and on Info-Resurrection excited an avid, friendly, collegial discussion, raising fascinating theoretical issues.
Such discussions, imho, should be a very heart and purpose of such meetings, an opportunity to build our community and develop strategies for growth.

The presentations are attached below.

On a more practical note, the next Seminar is tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 22. Further details will be announced later on.

We have discussed the increasing of our presence in the Internet. Currently there are two Israeli Transhumanist blogs.
Transhumanism Israblog:
http://israblog.nana...asp?blog=225403
and WTA Israel blog:
http://www.transhuma....php/wta-israel
These blogs need development. A couple of posts from each one could really boost our net presence. Please contact Eli eli3210 et gmail.com about Israblog, or Eli or me ilia.stambler et gmail.com about WTA Israel.

We have also briefly discussed joining the Transhumanist Student Network (as a large number of participants were students)
Please see: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TSN-ISR/

In short, the meeting was very friendly and productive. Hopefully there will be many more to come. Though, we should perhaps make a greater effort at advertising (on the other hand, it might make sense to make first meetings more “homely”). We truly missed the people who were not able to attend. Looking forward to seeing you the next time!

I am attaching our group photo (with the exception of Ana and David who left earlier). From left to right: Eli, Danny, Ilia, Yoni, Daniel. Front row: Olga, Adi.

Thanks again to all who attended or showed interest.

Ilia.

Attached Files

•  Meeting_Photo.jpg   554.45KB   0 downloads

[ilia]

Presentation 1 (Ilia).

Attached Files

•  A_Brief_History_of_Life_extensionism__Hebrew_.doc   122KB   1343 downloads

[ilia]

Presentation 2 (David)

Attached Files

•  Our_Mind_Clone__Hebrew_.doc   31KB   151 downloads

[Trias]

errr.. couldn't the photographer point the camera a bit up; this way the pretzels on the table would have remained out of sight ;-)

Ilia, it was a great experience indeed!
Too bad I had to wake up at 7:45 AM that day, after a 4 hours night sleep.
Looking forward to Danny's presentation.
I might prepare something myself. who knows?

By the way, Ilia, I'm reading the file you attached - - ata kotev ne'he'dar.

DS

[liorrh]

super cool, sorry I couln't attend.

[Blablaman]

The meeting was great. It was really good meeting everyone and, as David pointed out, finally talking face to face and not only through these little reply text-boxes. We've discovered that three of us study in close proximity to each other and I hope we'll see "mini"-meetings take place in addition to the bigger ones.

And Daniel, thanks again for the ride.

[Infernity]

It was very good, as you see, I made it eventually........

Daniel, nobody ate from 'em ^^


-Infernity

[dannybelkin]

Thanks for organizing the meeting, Ilia.
It was really great to finally discuss these issues with people who know what you're talking about [lol]
Looking forward to the next ones...

-Danny

[ilia]

Dear all,

I am delighted to invite you to the Second Israeli Meeting-Seminar on Transhumanism/Immortalism.

The meeting will take place on Friday, December 22, 10.30 am, in Bar Ilan University, Katz building (also known as Moreshet Israel 604 building, in the “Northern” part of the campus, in the “asbestonim” area), third floor, “Seminars Room (309)”.

We have two amazing presentations:

- Dr. Danny Belkin will present on “The Future of Medicine”
- Dr. Frida Fuchs Simonstein will present on “Infinitely Prolonged Lives.”

Looking forward to seeing you!

Ilia

[Infernity]

I'll be there.


-Infernity

[Trias]

I'll be there as well.

[Blablaman]

Ditto.

[Blablaman]

Btw, I think it's time to get the Blog thingie running again.

I'm asking for one article per month per person. At least two-three paragraphs. More if you want and/or can. We can write about whatever we want, even translate good posts made in other places(with permission, naturally).

Links to articles, witty quotes, recent technological advancements, whatever. Just let's not get too heavy on technical details.

[Trias]

Btw, I think it's time to get the Blog thingie running again.

I'm asking for one article per month per person. At least two-three paragraphs. More if you want and/or can. We can write about whatever we want, even translate good posts made in other places(with permission, naturally).

Links to articles, witty quotes, recent technological advancements, whatever. Just let's not get too heavy on technical details.

Eli my friend...... what's your MSN/ICQ?
(ùëçúé ìâîøé îæä!)

See you soon.

[Blablaman]

I should check this place more often.

I PMed you my ICQ number, but I rarely use it. Eli3210 ***at((( gmail is the most reliable and fast way.

[ilia]

See you on Friday (10.30, BIU, Katz 604, room 309)

[ilia]

Dear all,

I am delighted to report on the Second seminar on transhumanism that took place yesterday.

Unfortunately, Frida was not able to come. We are all so hoping to see you the next time!

Thus the meeting rested on Danny’s shoulders. Danny gave an amazing presentation on the Future of Medicine, with a comprehensive scholarly survey of emerging medical technologies: from pharmacology to gene therapy to stem cell therapy to nano-medicine. Thanks, Danny, for such an informative presentation!

Following Danny’s lecture the meeting proceeded informally. Ana’s remarks instigated a passionate discussion where we were very happy to prove the correctness of the immortalist philosophy Thanks, Ana!

Thanks to all the people who attended. Beside our hard core activists – Danny, Ana, David, Daniel, Adi, Eli, Ilia, Olga, Yoni – we were happy to see new faces: Barak (a high tech developer and graduate student in philosophy of science), Gilad (a student at the Herzlia interdisciplinary center) and Yosi (a construction engineer). Welcome!

Finally, we further discussed administrative measures, such as advertising at campuses and developing the site. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday March 2 (as January-February is the period of exams for a lot of people).

In short it was a fascinating, friendly and informative meeting. We missed all the people who were unable to attend and you guys missed a great meeting Hope to see you the next time.

Happy Holidays, Ilia

Attached Files

•  dcp_0601.jpg   614.7KB   0 downloads

Edited by ilia, 23 December 2006 - 06:32 PM.

[davidishalom1]

Hurray for the meeting, due respect to all participants, thanks Danny for amazing presentation and Anna too, and last but not least thank you so much Ilia for organizing and the facilities for the ongoing meetings. David

[talgalili]

looks nice.

And people, you need a REAL blog !

If you want minimal cost/benefit - go to
www.blogli.co.il

[Infernity]

We have one on Israblog... but we didn't write there much.. I hardly remember the password...

-Infernity

[ilia]

3d Seminar on Immortalism/Transhumanism

Hi guys,

I am delighted to invite all to the Third Israeli Meeting-Seminar on Transhumanism/Immortalism.

The meeting will take place on Friday, March 30, 10.30 am, in Bar Ilan University, Katz building (also known as Moreshet Israel 604 building, in the "Northern" part of the campus, in the "asbestonim" area), third floor, "Seminars Room” (309).

We have two great presentations:

- Dr. Frida Fuchs Simonstein will present on "Infinitely Prolonged Lives."
- Avi Rosen will present on “The Virtual Cathedral.”

Looking forward to seeing you. Hag sameach!

Ilia

[Infernity]

I can't make it. I'm sorry.

I truly am.

-Infernity

[ilia]

I am too. We'll let you know how it went

[damen]

I also cant come :(
I'l be in Tel-Aviv only on 4-6 of April

[ilia]

Haval! I thought you Adi and Ilya, being neighbours, could "Lekamben" something.

See the rest of you guys tomorrow.

[ilia]

Dear all,

I am delighted to report on the 3d seminar on Immortalism/transhumanism (4th general meeting of the group).

Thanks to all the wonderful people who attended!

Dr. Frida Fuchs Simonstein, bio-ethicist from Emek Izreel college, gave a fantastic presentation on Indefinite Life Prolongation: the scientific ways toward it – telomerase, embryonic and adult stem cells, calorie restriction etc.; and the ethical issues it raises – demography and overpopulation, progress and generations shift, the issue of memory and identity, ennui and the meaning of life, global and local justice, durability. Her work will be soon published in Hebrew (in “Refuah” journal [Medicine]) and it appears in English in her book “Self Evolution. The Ethics of Redesigning Eden”. Frida’s presentation instigated a passionate discussion, covering this vast range of relevant topics. Thank you for the amazing presentation!

Avi Rosen, a PhD candidate at the Department of Arts, Tel Aviv University, gave a comprehensive and colorful presentation on “The Virtual Cathedral” outlining topics indispensable to current Transhumanist thought, such as the relation or interface of the individual to his/her network, to the space and cyberspace, visualization and the role of artistic representation of the future. Thank you for this great value-laden presentation! This presentation can be found at http://newmediafix.net/

Thanks to all who attended:

Dr. Danny Belkin, a stem cell researcher and the foremost authority on bioscience in our group. Danny’s and his wife Ana’s research take them to Europe for a few years, at a great loss to the Israeli immortalist chapter. Thank you, Danny and Ana, for your inspiring presence. We will truly miss you guys! Please stay in touch!

Tal Galili, a MA student of bioinformatics at Tel Aviv University. Tal has recently joined the life-extensionist movement. His enthusiasm and practical approach to spreading the meme are truly admirable. He has recently set up a life-extensionist blog at http://longerlife.blogli.co.il/ for our community. There is absolutely no doubt that our internet presence needs to be expanded. There are now in existence: the Immortality Institute Israel forum http://www.imminst.o...s=&act=SF&f=181
The World Transhumanist Association Israel blog
http://www.transhuma...languages/C126/
and the Transhumanist blog that Eli set up at Israblog:
http://israblog.nana...asp?blog=225403
All that is needed is us spending some time to write (or translate) materials. Please consider it!

Heli Katsav, a PhD candidate at the Department of Gender Studies at Bar Ilan University (and the coordinator of that Department). Her PhD thesis concerns Anti-Aging in Israel. So it’s kind of writing the history of ourselves Thank you very much for participating!

Noam, an MA student of physics at Tel Aviv University and an active member of Israeli Sci Fi association. Welcome to the group! Noam suggested hooking up with the Sci Fi association, perhaps even producing a series of lectures or an entire conference under their auspices. Looks like a terrific proposal. After all, at present, we are all about “spreading the meme.”

Yoni Donner, a student at the Interdisciplinary program in Tel Aviv U, acts to raise the awareness of TH and LE in Tel Aviv University, possibly including lectures to student bodies. Way to go!

David Ish-Shalom, a veteran of the Israeli Transhumanist movement and one of its founders. Presently he is involved in a public grass-roots project aimed at promoting scientific research and scientific education in Jerusalem. Thanks for your constant and enthusiastic support!

Daniel Stein, a veteran Immortalist whom most of us know for his active and inspiring involvement in the Immortality Institute. To further the goals of LE, he has recently entered the field of bio-engineering. Thanks Daniel for your enthusiasm. You are by no means alone in this boat!

Olga Plutsker, a linguist and an artist, an immortalist of somewhat “spiritual” persuasion. Thank you for your long-term staunch encouragement and support!

Ilana Rosen, Avi’s wife, also a PhD candidate at Tel Aviv University. Thank you for your support and insightful comments.

Meself, Ilia Stambler, a PhD student at the Department of Science, Technology and Society at Bar-Ilan University (my thesis subject is the history of life-extensionism in the 20th century) and a technical writer at the Biophysical Schottenstein Center for the Research and the Technology of the Cellome, Bar Ilan U. It has been my great pleasure and privilege to be part of these meetings. Finally we have a live and vibrant community of like-minded active and searching individuals.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Prof. Noah Efron and Dr. Oren Harman of the Department of Science, Technology and Society, Bar Ilan, for encouraging these studies.

We missed all our staunch activists, who unfortunately were not able to attend this meeting – Adi, Eli, Alex, Lior, Ilya, Noam. Hope to see you guys soon again.

Many thanks again to all who attended or took interest.

A Happy and Peaceful Passover!

[Trias]

The best gathering to date.

Hail life!




from left to right:
Avi, Frida, Ilia, Yoni, Daniel, Tal and Noam.

Photographer: Ilana.

Attached Files

•  con4.jpg   455.14KB   0 downloads