Institute For The Future

FutureCast: Vinay Gupta on Disaster Relief Innovation

Designing with Empathy

Join Jerry Michalski in conversation with Vinay Gupta to discus the hexayurt, an innovative design for lightweight shelter, and possibly the future of disaster relief.

Vinay Gupta is the inventor of the hexayurt—a lightweight portable shelter—and a thinker and advisor on issues of long term global sustainability. He is a partner at Buttered Side Down, a risk management consultancy. Vinay also co-editied Winning the Oil Endgame, an independent, peer-reviewed synthesis for American business and military leaders that charts a roadmap for getting the United States completely, attractively, and profitably off oil.

The conversation will take place Thursday, April 1st,  from 11:00am to 12:00pm PST. Call-in information provided below.

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Toll Free number: 1-800-868-1837

International number: 1-404-920-6440

Participant code: 989418#

 

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According to the hexayurt official website, "The Hexayurt is a new kind of sheltering solution. To make the simplest hexayurt, make a wall by putting six sheets of plywood on their sides in a hexagon. Cut six more sheets in half diagonally, and screw them together into a shallow cone. Lift the roof on to the wall with a large group of people, then fasten it down with more screws. Seal and paint it for durability. Your basic hexayurt is complete. This shelter will last for years in most climates and costs less than $100. This basic design can be improved with proper windows, doors, room partitions, stove fittings and other architectural features. More durable materials could give it a very long life."

Vinay is currently working to bring the hexayurt to Haiti as a key element for disaster relief. He is currently in talks with 15 field groups from huge international NGOs to church groups and is hoping to see test units soon!

About FutureCast

The FutureCast series is a new way to track some of IFTF's research-in-progress and join the behind-the-scenes conversations that help shape our forecasts in global trends, technology, innovation, health, and sustainability. These open conversations will be recorded and made available as podcasts on The Future Now blog.