Accomplishments of Transhumanist Organizations
Michael Anissimov :: April 2004

On this page I am reviewing the accomplishments of these organizations. I am reviewing what they have contributed to the long-term goal of bringing about a positive future in which many of humanity's highest and noblest goals are achieved and our personal freedom is maximized. My hope is that a comprehensive review of their accomplishments will encourage these organizations to continue forward with utmost enthusiasm, and inspire others to join them. If I've left any accomplishments or other information out, do not hesitate to send me electronic mail. Keep in mind that I lack web statistics for each organization, so cannot determine exactly how many people they are spreading their messages to. My educated guess is that each organization gets between 5,000 and 100,000 hits per month, which probably translates into around 500 - 10,000 readers who actually absorb the material. All logos are copyrighted by their respective organizations.

Alcor Life Extension Foundation
Founded: 1972
Founders: Fred and Linda Chamberlain
Contributors: many
Purpose: "The Alcor Life Extension Foundation is the world's largest and most advanced provider of cryonics technology."
Accomplishments:

Alcor has cryonically suspended 59 patients.

Many Alcor members work toward a future in which cryonics patients can be revived in good health.

BetterHumans
Founded: 2002
Founders: Simon Smith and George Dvorsky
Contributors: Dale Carrico, James Hughes, Philip Shropshire, and many others
Purpose: "Connecting people to the future so that they can create it, we explore and advocate the use of science and technology for furthering human progress."
Accomplishments:

Writers for BetterHumans.com, a portal for transhumanist ideas.

BetterHumans founder Simon Smith has appeared on several television and radio shows.

Simon Smith gave a talk at the Transvision 2003 conference at Yale University.

Published over a hundred high-quality articles on transhumanist topics.

Published several dozen high-quality book reviews.

Excellent news coverage of topics in science, technology, politics, and the transhumanist community.

Produced the "Debating the Future" event in Toronto.

BetterHumans staff is largely responsible for the Toronto Transhumanist Association.

BetterHumans staff is playing a critical part in organizing the upcoming Transvision 2004 in Toronto.

BetterHumans staff have participated in numerous conferences and interviews.

Helped sponsor the Accelerating Change Conference 2003 at Stanford.

Helped sponsor the Transvision 2003 conference at Yale University.

Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN)
Founded: 2002
Founders: Chris Phoenix and Mike Treder
Contributors: Board of Advisors
Purpose: "The purpose of CRN is to investigate the ethical, legal, and social implications of molecular manufacturing, and to educate those who will influence its use, or be affected by it."
Accomplishments:

Writers for CRNano.org, a website analyzing the issues of nanotech and proposing policy solutions.

Published dozens of high-quality articles on topics related to the responsible handling of nanotech.

Director of Research Chris Phoenix published "Design of a Primitive Nanofactory", a breakthrough work.

Executive Director Mike Treder keeps up an excellent blog on CRN issues.

Chris Phoenix gave a talk at a conference on Nanoscale Devices and System Integration in Florida.

Chris Phoenix gave a presentation on nanotech to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Chris Phoenix debated the author of Nanocosm, Bill Atkinson, about nanotech issues.

Mike Treder gave a talk at a conference on Nanoscience & Engineering in South Carolina.

Mike Treder gave a talk at a conference on Discovering the Nanoscale in Germany.

Mike Treder gave a talk at the Transvision 2003 conference at Yale University.

Mike Treder is giving a talk at Foresight's upcoming Senior Associates Gathering in California.

CRN representatives have participated in numerous conferences and interviews.

CRN does rigorous theoretical work to better determine the best policies for administration.

CRN has received positive media attention, appearing in dozens of articles.

Cryonics Institute
Founded: 1976
Founder: Robert Ettinger
Contributors: many
Purpose: "The Cryonics Institute offers cryonic suspension services and information."
Accomplishments:

CI has cryonically suspended 50 patients.

Many CI members work towards a future in which cryonics patients can be revived in good health.

Extropy Institute
Founded: 1988
Founders: Max More, with some help from others
Contributors: probably hundreds
Purpose: "Extropy Institute sees enormous potential in advanced decision making and strategic thinking, coupled with emerging sciences and technologies, to quicken humanity's resolution of these fundamental problems."
Accomplishments:

The Extropy Institute is largely responsible for the founding of contemporary transhumanist philosophy.

Too many additional accomplishments to list here. See http://www.extropy.org/resources.htm.

Foresight Institute
Founded:

The Foresight Institute was the first organization to present nanotech-related ideas to the general public.

Too many accomplishments to list here. See http://www.foresight.org/Updates/Publications.html.

Immortality Institute for Infinite Lifespans (ImmInst)
Founded:

The Immortality Institute is the first organization to focus solely on the elimination of involuntary death.

ImmInst includes dozens of articles written by members on topics related to extreme life extension.

ImmInst includes over 80 members, whose dues are contributing to ImmInst's upcoming conference.

ImmInst is publishing a book with articles from many famous transhumanists and life extensionists.

ImmInst runs a discussion forum with over a thousand members, including dozens of posts per day.

Longevity Meme
Founded: 2002
Founders: Reason
Contributors: several
Purpose: "Our goal is to encourage achievable technologies, lifestyles and other means that will help people live comfortably, healthily and capably for as long as they desire, well beyond the current limits of mortality."
Accomplishments:

Longevity Meme develops and maintains a respectable website introducing people to life extension.

Longevity Meme publishes an informative daily newsletter.

Longevity Meme takes a valuable activist stance towards life extension.

Longevity Meme and close friends keep up a great blog, Fight Aging!

Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI)
Founded: 2000
Founders: Eliezer Yudkowsky, Brian Atkins, Sabine Atkins
Contributors: a few dozen
Purpose: "The Singularity Institute was created in the belief that the Singularity represents a tremendous opportunity to accomplish good. The Singularity may offer a new opportunity to solve fundamental human problems, not just by creating new technologies, but by increasing the intelligence with which we solve problems."
Accomplishments:

SIAI is the first organization formed specifically to pursue the goal of a safe technological Singularity.

SIAI is the first organization to study benevolent AI design as a specific discipline.

SIAI maintains and develops a high-quality website on Singularity-related issues.

SIAI does rigorous theoretical work to better determine the best policies for administration.

Research Fellow Eliezer Yudkowsky has published "Creating Friendly AI", a breakthrough work.

Society for Venturism
Founded: 1986
Founders: David Pizer
Contributors: several
Purpose: "The Society for Venturism is a nonprofit organization incorporated in Arizona. The Venturist Bylaws list, among the primary objectives and purposes of the Society, "To advocate and promote the worldwide conquest of death and the continuation and enhancement of life through technological means, including cryonic suspension."
Accomplishments:

Venturists work towards a future in which cryonics patients can be revived in good health.

Maintains a small resort with the intention of eventually forming a cryonics community.

Publishes Physical Immortality magazine on a quarterly basis.

Transhumanist Arts and Culture
Founded: 1982
Founder: Natasha Vita-More
Contributors: several
Purpose: "Extropic Arts, a genre of Transhumanist Arts, is primarily a movement influenced by the current state of events of transhumanity. The word "extropic" stems from the idea that things are forever expanding and improving. Extropic Art is characterized by the mediums of contemporary trends in design. Its' styles reflect a positive outlook while coming face to face with the current themes and issues of society."
Accomplishments:

Published the Transhumanist Arts Statement.

Founder Natasha Vita-More published the short book CREATE/RECREATE: The Third Millenial Culture

Founder Natasha Vita-More has an online exhibition, "Primo 2005", imagining a improved human being.

Founder Natasha Vita-More has an online exhibition, "The Aesthetics of Memetic Evolution"

Includes a gallery of fascinating transhumanist art.

Published a history of Transhumanist Art and how it relates to Transhumanism.

For additional accomplishments, see TAC's main site.

World Transhumanist Association (WTA)
Founded: 2001
Founders: Nick Bostrom and David Pearce
Contributors: dozens
Purpose: "The World Transhumanist Association is a nonprofit membership organization which works to promote discussion of the possibilities for radical improvement of human capacities using genetic, cybernetic and nano technologies."
Accomplishments:

The WTA was the first organization to serve as an umbrella organization for all transhumanist groups.

The WTA publishes an academic journal, the Journal of Evolution and Technology.

The WTA publishes a popular webzine, Transhumanity.

The WTA held the Transvision 2003 conference at Yale University.

The WTA will hold the Transvision 2004 conference in Toronto.

WTA secretary James Hughes and others have created Cyborg Democracy, an interesting blog.

James Hughes runs an online radio show, Changesurfer Radio.

The WTA is represented by chapters around the world, each with their own accomplishments.