A very interesting sidebar to this conversation is that Randall's ancestor was Confederate General Randall Gibson who became a leader in the post-war movement to expand the rights of African Americans. Wait until you hear who was his Civil War opponent.
Randall Gibson
rggibson@aol.com
AI Generated Info
Historical records identify
Randall Gibson
as a member of the Synergia commune (Synergia Ranch) in New Mexico, which was the foundational group that developed the Biosphere 2 project.Connection to Synergia Ranch and Biosphere 2
Conflagration on Long Pond RoadSigned Originals - Unsigned Open Edition Prints- Eco-technics: Gibson was part of the community that operated on a cybernetic notion he referred to as "eco-technics". This philosophy was the driving force behind the creation of the Institute of Ecotechnics, the organization that eventually designed and managed the Biosphere 2 missions.
- Community Structure: Within the Synergia commune, Gibson and other members followed specific internal social protocols. For instance, collective action was often managed through "connection sessions"—one-on-one sessions designed to resolve problems and conflicts within the group.
- Intellectual Contribution: While he was not one of the eight "Biospherians" who lived inside the facility, his involvement in the Synergia commune places him among the original collective of explorers, artists, and thinkers who conceived of the project as a "self-sustaining environment" for future space colonization.
Broader Context of the Group
The Synergia group, including figures like Randall Gibson and founder John P. Allen, sought to explore the interactions between humans, technology, and nature. This vision led to the construction of Biosphere 2 between 1987 and 1991 as a 3.14-acre closed ecological system—the largest ever created. The project was intended to serve as a laboratory for global ecology and a prototype for maintaining human life in outer space.
the Institute of Ecotechnics (IE) was essentially the founding organization behind Biosphere 2.
The association between the two was central to the project's inception, design, and initial management:
- Conceptual Origins: The idea for Biosphere 2 originated with a group of people from an ecovillage on Synergia Ranch in New Mexico. This group, led by John P. Allen, founded the Institute of Ecotechnics in 1973 to study the "ecology of techniques" and the "techniques of ecology".
- Project Management: From 1984 to 1994, the Institute of Ecotechnics served as the scientific coordinator for the project. The facility was implemented by Space Biospheres Ventures (SBV), a joint venture that was 5% owned by the Institute.
- Key Personnel: Many of the project's leaders were also founding directors or long-time members of the Institute:
- John P. Allen: Inventor and executive chairman of Biosphere 2, and founder of the Institute.
- Mark Nelson: A founding director of the Institute who served as a crew member during the first two-year mission and was the project's Director of Space and Environmental Applications.
- Margaret Augustine: CEO of SBV and a principal officer in the project.
- Research & Methodology: The Institute organized a series of international conferences that brought together the scientific and engineering teams needed to design the closed ecological system. They also developed the original ecosystem management approaches used within the facility.
While the project was bankrolled by billionaire Ed Bass, who met John Allen at Synergia Ranch, the intellectual and operational framework was entirely provided by the Institute of Ecotechnics.
About Biosphere Two
is a massive 3.14-acre Earth system science research facility located in Oracle, Arizona, designed to serve as a world-class laboratory for controlled scientific studies. Originally built as an airtight, self-sustaining ecosystem to test the feasibility of space colonization, it has evolved into a leading center for climate change and sustainability research managed by the University of Arizona.
Core Ecosystems (Biomes)
The facility houses five distinct synthetic ecosystems under its glass and steel spaceframe:
- Tropical Rainforest: Features a 91-foot-tall canopy with over 150 plant species, used to study plant heat tolerance and carbon absorption.
- Ocean with Coral Reef: A 700,000-gallon saltwater system where researchers test coral reef restoration methods and the effects of ocean acidification.
- Fog Desert: Mimics a coastal desert scrub environment; it currently serves as a “fish bank” for endangered pupfish.
- Mangrove Wetlands: Replicates two key wetland types to inform wild restoration efforts.
- Savanna: Serves as a hydrological transition zone between the desert and rainforest.
History & Key Missions
- The "Biospherians": Between 1991 and 1994, two closed-system missions were conducted. During the first two-year mission, a crew of eight lived entirely inside, growing 80% of their food.
- Major Challenges: The projects faced oxygen depletion (caused by soil microbes and unsealed concrete), food shortages, and intense social friction among the crew.
- Ownership Shift: After being managed by Columbia University (1996–2003), the facility was acquired by the University of Arizona in 2011, shifting focus from colonization to Earth-based climate adaptation.
Current Research Initiatives
- Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO): The world's largest indoor Earth science experiment, using 1,800 sensors to study how water and life transform barren rock into fertile soil.
- Agrovoltaics: Outside the main structure, researchers grow food crops beneath solar panels to improve water efficiency and energy output.
- Space Analogs: The facility continues its space legacy through projects like SAM (Space Analog for the Moon and Mars), testing bioregenerative life support systems.
Visitor Information
The facility is open daily to the public. Visitors use the Biosphere 2 Experience app for self-guided audio tours along a one-mile path.
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).
- Tickets: Must be purchased online in advance.
Are you interested in visiting the facility in person, or would you like to know more about a specific experiment like the coral reef restoration or LEO?
