San Diego History

Interview with Local Author David Brin

History Channel: The Architects
By Mark S. Burgess
Posted on Oct 07 2006
Last updated Mar 19 2008

Interview Video (37mb)

If you're famous for writing about dolphins in space, a perfectly open society and futuristic postmen following a nuclear holocaust made into a movie by Kevin Costner, it's just a natural result that you'd be invited to New York City to help invent new ways to battle high rise disasters.

Local science fiction writer and PhD in astrophysics, David Brin, joined four other specialists to consult with the New York City fire department for a History channel presentation called "The Architects: Skyscraper Firefighting and Escape" to air on Wednesday October 11, 2006 at 11pm here in San Diego.

Here's the description from the History Channel site:

David Brin in his study with renderings of

characters from his book "Startide Rising"

Copyright©2006 sandiego.com, Inc.

"Five geniuses, and a challenge: innovate fire rescue and evacuation equipment and vehicles for use in skyscraper disasters--and do it in 48 hours! A high-tech think tank of engineers, designers, writers and visionaries, strive to tackle the limitations of today's technology--and by using just-over-the-horizon thinking, develop radical new designs for the future. With the unprecedented cooperation New York's regional fire departments, it's a high-tech fire department makeover as the design team reworks skyscraper firefighting.For two high-pressure days on location in the greater New York area, they will immerse themselves in every aspect of firefighting, to assist both occupants and firefighters with innovations not yet imagined, culminating with a dramatic presentation for Former FDNY Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen. He will bring their ideas back to the International Association of Fire Chiefs--but only if they're good enough."

According to David, this wasn't his first outing for the History Channel. He was part of another group challenged by a General from the Pentagon to revise the Humvee. They spent a week chasing around the desert, followed by History Channel cameras as they drove tanks and devised new ways to transport troops.

So it was they spent a week in New York City brainstorming about how to handle fires and other disasters in high rises. David sat with us for a short interview to talk about his experience. You can read more about him at his web site www.davidbrin.com.

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