Metaversity Instance

I’ve mentioned the Science Hostel idea before — originated with Garrett Lisi, resonates with the idea of the metaversity. Also, I think an important approach to the future of post doctoral education. It looks like Lisi has a website for this idea going up now: http://sciencehostel.org/

Garrett Lisi has been getting a lot of attention lately for his ideas on lie algebras and particle physics. This my isn’t thing, but a close friend of mine has been into lie algebra for some time, so Lisi’s recent TED talk on the subject caught my attention. But what was really interesting to me was not the math, or the pretty pictures that are supposed to describe/predict so far undected particles (although this was all really cool). What was interesting to me is Lisi’s description of a looser, less geographically bounded structure of the university — actually in far flung parts of the world, communicating remotely, living a balanced life, and having the time and space to actually think. Maybe a bit dreamy in parts, but it strikes me as also a very apt description of an “instance” of the metaversity that incorporates profound scholarly activity with living in beautiful places — a geographically unboundedness to the life of the university. His discussion of his approach starts at about minute 16 of the TED talk.

His ideas about the “Science Hostel” can be found on his website.