Robert Gillett ⋅ Lusby, MD U.S. Navy Reserve, Commander ⋅ 28 years served

OSE is an organization developing functionally integrated sustainable systems using commonly available materials. The system of systems they are developing and prototyping (using a lot of voluntary open sourced expertise) is called the global village construction set (GVCS). The idea is that everything necessary to replicate the roughly 30 machines that make up the GVCS are included in this suite of machines, i.e. It can be self-replicating. Besides that, the machines are useful for assorted manufacturing, construction, and land management tasks benefitting a community of a few hundred people. As a systems engineer, I could contribute to architecting, designing, testing, and documenting such systems. I also have project management experience to draw on. Other than Open Source Ecology itself, I don't know of any firm with as broad a charter taking sustainability as seriously. Intentional communities, which include global eco-villages approach this degree of self-reliance. Ben Falk, who wrote a handbook for whole systems design called "The Resilient Farm and Homestead," provides documentation for how it has been somewhat approximated in a smaller farm setting. Potential customers include communities turning away from reliance on big government in the US and abroad. The transition towns movement in the UK, and lately In the US, represent potential implementers of OSE systems.

Thanks for the suggestion to start with the Yellow Pages. As my "dream job," this is one that I would definitely consider selling the house and moving for if the offer was sufficient.

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco, CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Robert,
Please describe for us, in 8 seconds and in 30 seconds, what "Open Source Ecology" is.

What skills and benefits do you have that you can offer to firm that operate in this space?

Are there firms that operate in this space today?

Who are the potential or target customers of these firms?

Alan J. Zell ⋅ Portland, OR Attitudes for Selling ⋅ 29 years experience

Robert, I'm not sure what "open source ecology" is. Is it using open source software or does it relate to some specialized area of ecology . . . or both?

As to a dream job. I don't know if there is such a thing as a "dream job" but there are, for sure, firms and organizations that could use your experience and knowledge.

Unless you're free to relocate, I would start by using the local yellow pages for firms or associations aligned with the field you're interested in working in. I doubt there is no place where something is being done in that arena. So, the yellow pages might be a place to start, however, just what category it would fall into may be a callenge to find. I'd stat with the listing of associations and any power (gas, electric, fuel) firms.