Dennis Bushnell

Summary

Dennis M. Bushnell is a NASA scientist and lecturer who retired in 2023 after 60 years of service to NASA. As chief scientist at NASA Langley Research Center for more than two decades, he was responsible for technical oversight and advanced program formulation. His work focused mainly on new approaches to environmental issues, in particular to climate issues. Bushnell has received numerous awards for his work. Bushnell has promoted research at NASA into LENR (low energy nuclear reactions, or cold fusion).

In 1998, Bushnell was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for viscous flow modeling and control, turbulent drag reduction, and advanced aeronautical concepts.

Source: Wikipedia

OnAir Post: Dennis Bushnell

About

Summary

Dennis M. Bushnell is a distinguished NASA scientist and lecturer who dedicated 60 years of his career to the agency before retiring in 2023. For over two decades, he held the prominent position of Chief Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, where his responsibilities encompassed technical oversight and the formulation of advanced programs.

His work at NASA primarily focused on pioneering solutions to environmental challenges, with a significant emphasis on climate-related issues. Throughout his extensive career, Bushnell made substantial contributions to a wide array of areas, including:

  • Aerodynamics and Aeronautics: He is recognized for his work in viscous flow modeling and control, turbulent drag reduction, and advanced aeronautical concepts. This led to his election to the National Academy of Engineering in 1998. His expertise spanned flow modeling and control across various speed ranges, advanced aircraft configurations, and hypersonic airbreathing propulsion.
  • Environmental Issues and Climate Change: A significant portion of his later career was dedicated to addressing climate change and exploring sustainable solutions. He assessed the nation’s power and energy needs in the context of the climate threat and advocated for renewable energy sources and carbon dioxide removal technologies.
  • Space Exploration: Bushnell contributed to numerous space missions and programs, including Gemini, Apollo, the X-15, Viking, and the Space Shuttle. His work extended to planetary exploration and advanced space access technologies. He also explored technologies for enabling safe and affordable human missions to Mars.
  • Advanced Technologies: His work involved a broad spectrum of advanced technologies, including materials, acoustics, flight electronics, controls, software, and instruments. He also promoted research into Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR), also known as cold fusion, at NASA.
  • Innovation and Creativity: Bushnell was a strong advocate for fostering creativity within the workplace and recognized it as a crucial capability for the future.

Bushnell authored over 230 publications and major presentations and delivered nearly 200 invited lectures and seminars, often focusing on the future of technology and its impact on society. He also holds five patents. His extensive knowledge and forward-thinking perspectives made him a sought-after speaker for government, military, and academic organizations.

Even in retirement, Bushnell remains engaged in thinking about the future, particularly the long-term direction of NASA and societal challenges, as evidenced by his work contributing to the NASA 2040 study.

Dennis M. Bushnell is a NASA scientist and lecturer who retired in 2023 after 60 years of service to NASA. As chief scientist at NASA Langley Research Center for more than two decades, he was responsible for technical oversight and advanced program formulation. Wikipedia

Source: Gemini

Web Links

ITDF Essay, November 2023

In the future, humans could possibly become cyborgs

In the future, humans could possibly become cyborgs, merging with machines

“The modified industrial-age society will alter much by 2040. AI will subsume employment while creating major additional wealth and providing people with a guaranteed annual income. Many humans will have to decide what they would like to do instead of being employed in a traditional job, an individual decision. Finding a vocation, entertainment or some other meaningful place for themselves in the metaverse is one possibility.

“We humans have been far too successful; we are working ourselves out of a job by inventing other intelligent species in the realm of AI and AGI. We have also been decimating the ecosystem and seem to be developing ourselves out of a planet. The result of all this will be stormy, very trying.

AI and AGI will lead to widespread and highly impactful technological change across all aspects of human activity. This will result in an ongoing evolutionary transformation of humans themselves, possibly toward becoming cyborgs as we merge with machines.

“The human brain’s amygdala is wired to ensure that we abhor change, and the amount of change due to AI/AGI will be massive in coming years. There will be a continued rapid advancement of the virtual age and tele-everything.

“AI and AGI will lead to widespread and highly impactful technological change across all aspects of human activity. This will result in an ongoing evolutionary transformation of humans themselves, possibly toward becoming cyborgs as we merge with machines.

“There will be major increases in human life span and a Global Mind that all will utilize will emerge out of human technological development.”

This was written in November 2023 in reply to the question: Considering likely changes due to the proliferation of AI in individuals’ lives and in social, economic and political systems, how will life have changed by 2040? This and more than 150 additional responses are included in the report “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence by 2040”

 

More Information

Wikipedia


Dennis M. Bushnell is a NASA scientist and lecturer who retired in 2023 after 60 years of service to NASA. As chief scientist at NASA Langley Research Center for more than two decades, he was responsible for technical oversight and advanced program formulation. His work focused mainly on new approaches to environmental issues, in particular to climate issues.[1] Bushnell has received numerous awards for his work.[2] Bushnell has promoted research at NASA into LENR (low energy nuclear reactions, or cold fusion).[3]

In 1998, Bushnell was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for viscous flow modeling and control, turbulent drag reduction, and advanced aeronautical concepts.

Education

Bushnell obtained his M.E. degree from the University of Connecticut in 1963 and his M.S. degree from the University of Virginia in 1967, both in the field of Mechanical Engineering.[4]

Publications

Future Strategic Issues/Future Warfare [Circa 2025] [1]

Bibliography

  • Dennis M. Bushnell, Marie H. Tuttle (1979). Survey and bibliography on attainment of laminar flow control in air using pressure gradient and suction. NASA, Scientific and Technical Information Branch.

References

  1. ^ Dennis Bushnell Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine, Arlington Institute
  2. ^ Introductory text to: Dennis Bushnell as guest in The Space Show Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine, aired on April 27, 2008
  3. ^ “Low Energy Nuclear Reactions, the Realism and the Outlook by Dennis Bushnell”. Archived from the original on 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
  4. ^ Dennis M. Bushnell, BlueTech Forum


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_M._Bushnell

    Skip to toolbar