WRITING
I began my career as a journalist in California, where I won awards for feature, commentary and investigative writing. I have written journalism and essays consistently since then and have also published two books, Lost in Space and The Emissary, which you can buy via all the usual online sources. Some journalism and essay highlights are playfully presented on this page.
I’ve recently undertaken commissions that more closely connect with my work in Facilitation and Nimble Fish through writing that helps organisations position ideas, projects, research and people in the public eye. To date, I’ve done this kind of work for the London School of Economics and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. I’ve also developed learning resources to help teachers and young people harness the power of arts and creativity. Recent projects include the Tate Year 3 Project, an epic school-driven artwork created by Turner Prize winning artist (and Oscar winning director) Steve McQueen displayed at Tate Britain from November 2019 through May 2020, and also Make Art Not War, a suite of creative skills resources based on the commissions of the 14-18 NOW WWI Centenary commissions – more than 50,000 further education students across the UK have engaged with this resource.
The Immortals’ Club
I've come close more than once to writing a book about the sociology and science behind radical life extension, aka living forever. This and the Better Humans essay were attempts to work through some of the key ideas and players. New Scientist .
Fast-track to orbit
You take the high road...but I'll save millions getting into space. New Scientist
American booty: The new space prize
Bigger than the X-Prize, but only if you're American. New Scientist
Apollo special
Astronaut or taikonaut: whose footprints will be next on the moon? New Scientist
Hay Festival
If you click here, you can listen to a podcast of my talk on Lost in Space at the 2004 Hay Festival. If you listen very closely, you'll occasionally hear my daughter, then two years old, calling out, 'Daddy'. Always good to have at least one fan in the audience......
Microsoft Research Video
A video of a talk to Microsoft Research in Seattle, on Lost in Space and SETI - useful as a portal to my lost youth if nothing else!