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About Me

I have worked for AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development, since 1989, mainly on Papua New Guinea, and most recently in the new Mining for Development Program. I have a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree and a Master of Arts Honours Degree from Macquarie University, both majoring in philosophy. My Masters thesis on The Place of Ethics in Heidegger's Ontology is available on my website. I also have a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash and ANU. I have invented methods for large scale production of algae at sea using floating plastic structures, as shown at my website, and am interested to explore the practical feasibility of these ideas. I have a strong interest in astronomy as it relates to theology, with a scientific focus on how ancient thought used observation of the stars as the basis of mythology, especially in the formation of the myth of Jesus Christ. I discuss these ideas at the Free Thought Nation website, where I am a moderator. I play piano, classical guitar and recorder, and sing, and have written a number of original songs. I play piano once a month at a traditional Uniting Church worship service. I am a constant reader, and lead discussions on great books at Booktalk.org.

Location:
Australia, Canberra, Act
Current organization:
Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
Current role:
Program Manager, Mining for Development
Gender:
Male
Areas of expertise:
Astrotheology, Philosophy, Algae Biofuel, International Development
Languages:
English
My website links:
Booktalk, Robert Tulip Home Page, Free Thought Nation
Universities:
Macquarie University - Sydney, Monash University, Australian National University
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More About Me

I'm passionate about

Ocean based Algae Biofuel systems to reverse global warming, scientific analysis of Christian mythology, my music, my son and daughter.

An idea worth spreading

Plastic sheets placed just below the ocean surface can cool the sea, grow algae and fish, and provide a simple, rapid, economic, scaleable and safe method to reverse global warming.

Talk to me about

Algae Biofuel, Atheism and Christianity, the scientific basis of the Age of Aquarius

People don't know that I'm good at

writing songs, playing guitar and singing

My TED Story

I am a futuristic visionary. Although my ideas are unusual, they make good sense, and I love nothing more than being challenged by people who do not understand things that I say, so that I can explain new ideas. I am utterly scientific in my attitudes, seeing evidence based policy as the highest good. This attitude has led me to some very innovative areas of thought, in my linkage of the seemingly disparate topics of strategies to address global warming and understanding the real nature of religion. I take the view that human survival on earth requires a cultural transformation, addressing basic issues in the nature of religion, integrating faith and reason to build innovative humanitarian knowledge as the basis for a new age of global human civilization.

Comments

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  • A comment on Talk: Jonathan Trent: Energy from floating algae pods

    Jun 9 2013: This talk shows the ongoing progress Dr Trent is making to commercialise offshore algae production at scale - superb! I have sketched some related ideas at rtulip.net, especially regarding a method to use tidal pumping energy. It would be great to fund the OMEGA system using the procurement budgets of extractive industries. For example, the Gorgon Gas Project at the North West Shelf of Western Australia could implement this OMEGA system. Gorgon plans to sequester large quantities of CO2 that is co-produced with natural gas. If this CO2 can be used to grow algae, it could be a commercially valuable product, instead of a sequestration cost. I work at the Australian Agency for International Development on Mining for Development and would love to explore if the Australian Government could fund research on this topic. If we can mine CO2 from the air using the OMEGA technology we have potential to make a major contribution to the stability and security of our climate and energy and food systems. I expect that algae varieties will achieve steadily increased yields through plant husbandry alone, feeding the most productive strains back into the system. The scope to grow fuel, food, fertilizer and fabric is immense, so the OMEGA system can produce the materials required for its replication. The goal can be to eventually work in the open ocean, ploughing the sea by raising nutrients from below the thermocline to turn the 50 million square kilometers of ocean desert into productive fisheries.

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