“Since the 1980s, I have focused on human-technology integration and the relationship between arts/design and science. My theoretical activity is concerned with human enhancement and the methods for elevating human capabilities through the media of AGI, nanomedicine and biotechnology, and within the artistic practices of visual, narrative, and biological arts and toward the emergence of new media/methods.” Natasha’s CV is located here: http://www.natasha.cc/cv.htm

Natasha is a new media design theorist and university lecturer. She is a PhD researcher University of Plymouth, Faculty of Arts, School of Art and Media; holds a MPhil, University of Plymouth, Faculty of Technology, School of Communications, Computers and Electronics; an MSc, University of Houston, Future Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities; a BFA, University of Memphis, Painting, Sculpture and Printmaking; was filmmaker-in-residence, University of Colorado; and holds Certificates in Nutrition and Sports Training, American Muscle & Fitness Association.
Natasha’s research concerns the aesthetics of human enhancement and radical life extension, with a focus on sciences and technologies of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive and neuro sciences (NBIC). Her conceptual future human design ―Primo Posthuman‖ has been featured in Wired, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Net Business, Teleopolis, and Village Voice. She has appeared in over twenty-four televised documentaries on the future and culture, and has exhibited media artworks at National Centre for Contemporary Arts, Brooks Memorial Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, Women In Video, Telluride Film Festival, and United States Film Festival and recently “Evolution Haute Couture: Art and Science in the Post-Biological Age”. Natasha has been the recipient of several awards: First Place Award at Brooks Memorial Museum, Special Recognition at Women in Video, and Best Graduate Student Project of 2005 for her “Futures Podcast Series: at the University of Houston, Future Studies program.
Natasha is a proponent human rights and ethical means for human enhancement, and is published in Artifact, Technoetic Arts, Nanotechnology Perceptions, Annual Workshop on Geoethical Nanotechnology, Death And Anti-Death. She has a bi-monthly column in Nanotechnology Now, is a Guest Editor of The Global Spiral academic journal and on the Editorial Board of International Journal of Green Nanotechnology. Natasha authored Create / Recreate: the 3rd Millennial Culture on the emerging cybernetic culture and the future of humanism and the arts and sciences. She co-authored One on One Fitness, a guide to nutrition and aerobic and anaerobic exercise for women.

It’s been an exciting year for us at Humanity+. Our December conference at Caltech was a big success, and was mentioned in a TIME Magazine cover story. Our May conference at Parsons featured luminaries like public relations pioneer Howard Bloom and digital artist Scott Draves. We’ve gotten lots of cool new people on board, and are now hosting the Gada Prize, a $20,000 prize for better 3D printing technology. Ben Goertzel, our Chairman, also presented at Peter Thiel’s Breakthrough Philanthropy event- the world’s premier gathering for radical, technology-based charity to improve the human condition.

However, all of these things cost money – for web hosting, for travel, for food, for fees and taxes and prize funds. As a nonprofit, we recognize that without our donors and members, none of these things could have happened. We have some amazing people on the Humanity+ team, but at the end of the day, things can’t get done without the funding to support them. By donating to Humanity+, you help provide critical funds to support projects like H+ Magazine, Humanity+ conferences, the Humanity+ newsletter and H+ Press.

New Projects Your Gift Will Support

DNA Synthesizer

Current synthesis machines cost tens of thousands of dollars, and each gene then costs about $300 per thousand base pairs. By using new technology to design a more efficient synthesizer, and then putting the blueprints online, we will allow anyone to test new ideas in genetics and biology for less than a tenth of the current cost.

Open Source Vision Processing for Intelligent Robots

New computer vision software for the OpenCog AI architecture will allow OpenCog AI to control and experiment with physical, real-world robots, in addition to virtual characters.

Student Outreach

Grass-roots, future-oriented student groups at universities can influence critical-thinking young people at an important stage in their intellectual and career development.

What if there were a group of young, bright, energetic transhumanists traveling from university to university, holding one-day events on issues relating to science, technology, and society? A traveling band of young transhumanists to inspire students.

Humanity+ Conferences

Humanity+ conferences bring extraordinary people together from across the globe to discuss the ethical use of technology to expand human capacities. The discussions range from artificial general intelligence, to genetics, prosthetics, nanotechnology, life extension, cryonics, the singularity, global security, the environment, arts and entertainment. Humanity+ conference in Hong Kong this December will be the first-ever transhumanist conference in East Asia, and will help bring ideas which have primarily been developed by Western thinkers to over two billion people.

Humanity+ PR Initiative

We live at a fascinating and critical time in human history, when transhumanist ideas are rapidly moving into the mainstream media and the public eye. This presents both risks and opportunities. Humanity+ is working with experienced PR professionals to strategize methods for ensuring that this increase in publicity transpires in a positive way — for example, by sending appropriate H+ Magazine articles to mainstream media sources.

Give to Humanity+ Here!

First Session, Re-Imagining Humans: Mind, Media and Methods

Conference Intro by Ben Goertzel
Information + Transformation: How Digital Media Accelerates the Future Evolution of Humanity by Robert Tercek
Exploring the Infinite Frontier by J-Walt
How Mobile Technology is Transforming the World by Amy Li
Human Enhancement: Emerging Designs for Wearable Selves by Natasha Vita-More
Problems Solved: What’s Next for H+ Magazine by RU Sirius
Mediating the Transition- can art minimize a backlash from techno-phobic fundamentalism? by Michael Masucci
Panel Discussion

Second Session, Radically Increasing the Human Healthspan

Longevity for the Long Term by Gregory Benford
Is There a Maximum Human Lifespan? by Stephen Coles
Building Methuselahs by Michael Rose
The Holy Trinity of 21st Century Biomedicine: Genomics, AI and Experimental Evolution by Ben Goertzel
Strategies for Engineering Negligible Senesence: A Response to the Previous Speakers by Aubrey de Grey
The Future of the Pharmaceutical Industry by Ryan Bethencourt
Panel Discussion

Third Session, Redefining Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, Intelligence Enhancement and Substrate-Independent Minds

The 25 Watt bio-computer: Lessons for Artificial Human Intelligence and Substrate-Independent Minds by Randal Koene
Pavlov’s AI: What do superintelligences REALLY want? by Suzanne Gildert
Finding the essence of an object using a quantum annealing machine by Geordie Rose
Autocatalyzing Intelligence Symbiosis: what happens when artificial intelligence for intelligence amplification drives a 3dfx-like intelligence explosion by Alex Peake
Speculations on robots, cyborgs and telepresence by Adrian Stoica
From Cognitive Architectures to Virtual Humans by Paul Rosenbloom
Building Better Minds: A Path to, and Architecture for, Beneficial Artificial General Intelligence by Ben Goertzel
Advanced brain-machine interfaces – Experimental Data and Possibilities by Moran Cerf
Panel Discussion

Fourth Session, Business and Economy in the Era of Radical Technomorphosis

Harnessing Increasing Technological Progress in Business Performance by John Hagel
How to Optimize Disorder in Today’s Organizations and Tomorrow’s Corporate Selves by Max More
The Growth, Memory and Democratization of Science by Alex Backer
Lifehacking for Rationalists: Old Ideas + New Technology by Patri Friedman
Networks, Hierarchies and the Vingean Singularity by Michael Vassar
Re-Imagining Humans – Using video games to cultivate mind body awareness and natural intelligence by Gino Yu
Accelerating Resilience by Tom Munnecke
Personal Manufacturing and the Gada Prize by Bryan Bishop
Panel Discussion