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LEARNING ABOUT STEM
BY BUILDING A GEODESIC HOUSEBOAT
M I C H A E L R W E E K E S , B S I E , L E A N S I X S I G M A B B
C O - F O U N D E R , W N Y S T E M H U B
B U F F A L O , N Y
( 7 1 6 ) 5 1 7 - 7 9 5 7
M I C H A E L L O V E S B U F F A L O @ G M A I L . C O M
Copyright – Michael R Weekes - 2014

AGENDA
1) Why Build a Geodesic Houseboat?
To solve a problem (the reason STEM matters).
2) How the Process Revealed STEM
Lessons learned under the dome.
3) Domes Make STEM Fun and Meaningful
 Kids (of all ages) like learning a whole lot more when it is part
of making something that provides value and is fun in the
process!
4) A Global STEM Geodesic Enterprise Architecture
The simple, holistic, robust, integrated framework solution

THE DREAM
Arguably all science, technology, engineering, math
and art starts with a dream or a yearning or is influenced
or helped by it. Example: Lewis Structure appeared first in
a dream as snakes engulfing each other.
An affordable waterfront get-away made of
our own design, simple yet capable.

WHY BUILD A GEODESIC HOUSEBOAT?
Opportunity
WNY is about the waterfront
It’s where the fun, the tranquility and the action is
We all love water and waterfronts
Every guy I know longs to build his own boat since
he read about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn
Show me a city or town and I’ll show you the most
expensive real estate: IT’S ALONG THE WATER!

Problem
Buying boats is expensive
Building boats is expensive
Keeping boats up is expensive
Maintenance can waste time
You may need new knowledge
Loading and unloading
Insurance, risk, theft
Cost Quality Time

Solving The Problem (Scientific Process)
Define / gather data / learn
Measure / Model
Analyze / Simulate
Try / Assess / Adjust
Improve / Achieve solution
Results / Outcomes
plan
do
check
act
Lighter Quicker Cheaper

The Requirements
Size - At lease 10’ wide, 16’ long, 7’6” high
Shelter – from wind, rain, cold, sun, heat
Nourishment – Food, drink, Cooler, Grill
Capacity – seating, type, materials, cost, comfort
Safety – Not sinking or harming anyone
Function - Accommodate up to 6 or 8 guests
Appearance – attractive, intriguing, different
Having Fun!

Options
 Buy an old motor or sail boat and fix it up
 Build the equivalent
Shanty boat, packet boat, day-sailor, motor skiff
New Problems
Poor appearance (there’s a reason why a boat is for
sale)
Excessive cost or labor or time to make and maintain
Facility to build, if we did not buy
Skills required, workmanship, quality, injury

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, BUT HOW DOES IT LOOK?
Functional isn’t
Necessarily pretty!

OUT-OF-THE-BOX SOLUTION
Geodesic Houseboat
Hull made from storage containers
Light, inexpensive, robust enough
No epoxy or resin, milling, cutting, fastening
Cabin made from Geodesic Dome / Shell
Light, inexpensive, robust enough
Made from common lumber (2x2) and plywood
Quick to assemble, easy to understand / build
Very interesting to look at / tech-look / alluring

OUT-OF-THE-BOX SOLUTION
Geodesic Houseboat
Hull made from storage containers
Cabin made from Geodesic Dome / Shell

THE DREAM COMES TRUE – JULY 23RD, 2013

HOW THE PROCESS REVEALED STEM
The Math of Building a Geodesic Houseboat
Triangles
Isosceles (two sides the same in length)
Equilateral (all three sides the same)
Pentagons
Nothing more than Five Isosceles Triangles joined
along the shorter sides (struts)
Hexagons
A Mix of Isosceles and Equilateral Triangles

TRIANGLES, PENTAGONS AND HEXAGONS
By joining sets of isosceles
Triangles together we
Achieve pentagons
Top
view
side
view

THE RELATIONSHIP OF R, RADIUS
R
a a
a
a
b
b
b
b
b
In our application
With Radius of R
a = 0.547 x R
B = 0.618 x R
Let’s look at the prospect of building
A dome from six if these pentagons.
We call that a second frequency icosahedron.
a
a
NOTE
a > r

THE SECOND FREQUENCY ICOSAHEDRON
If we fasten the six pentagons together along
with ten equilateral triangles we end up with a
dome (or half of a sphere).
With a radius of 5’,
Lengths of a =
0.547 x 5.00 = 2.735’
The b strut will =
0.618 x 5.00 = 3.09’.
b
b
b
b
a
a
a
a
a
We can now build
A simple dome for
Any radius or diameter!

THE FIVE SOLIDS
Cube
Tetrahedron
Icosahedron
Octahedron
Dodecahedron
This presentation focuses
Primarily on the version of
The icosahedron nicknamed
The second frequency dome.

THE SOLIDS
NOTE:
No cube - Too unstable!
tetrahedron
octahedron
icosahedron
dodecahedron

THE SMALLER THE TRIANGLE, THE HIGHER THE
FREQUENCY AND COMPLEXITY OF THE DOME
Domes can grow to an
infinite number of struts and hubs, but 80,000 is
abut the highest number recently found to be
effective is scientific research and development

CLASS HANDS-ON LEARNING EXERCISE
BUILDING A SIMPLE 2V PAPER GEODESIC DOME
This class exercise comes to us from the HILA Science Group – visit www.hilaroad.com
The exercise invites us to assemble our own dome in class, using pre-cut pieces of poster paper so we
can learn by doing. We will make a 20” dia. Dome.
The dome consists of a total of 40 pieces:
Thirty isosceles triangles to make up a total of six pentagons
Ten equilateral triangles between adjacent pentagons
The dimensions follow the same formula mentioned
R = 10”, so a = 0.547 x R or 5.47” and b = 0.618 x R = 6.18”
A list of all necessary items is available
This exercise was tested and validates at the Seneca Street Community Center – Madaille College
Participants will build the domes with guidance.
Each participant will mark the triangles with
their name, creating a geodesic model of our
team and a method of celebrating our
cooperative accomplishment demonstrating
teamwork as well as how STEM works.

ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM – HANDS-ON EXERCISE
Make six of these pentagons.
Fasten isosceles triangles.
Fasten the five pentagons together with
the equilateral triangles like a fence.
1
2
3
4
Complete the dome by
Fastening the sixth
Pentagon on top.

EVALUATION - CLASS EXAMPLE QUESTIONS
What did you learn as you built the dome?
What was the hardest part?
What was fun about the process?
How would you define quality in the process?
How does this solid differ from a cube?
Would it take you less time to do your next dome?
Why?
Did you seem to specialize in a particular role?
Are you more of a supervisor or a builder?
How could this be more fun the next time?
Could you write an instruction on how to build a dome?
What domes in the real world can you imagine?

GEODESIC INFLUENCE AREAS OF CURRENT
SCIENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Image Segmentation, Advances Neuroscience , EEG / EGI,
Architecture, viruses, nanotechnology, nanotubes, carbon fiber
ultra-light advancements, greenhouses, sustainability, urban
gardening, hydroponics, fish farms, symmetry, analysis, plasma
and fusion research, statistical shape influence, stock and financial
analysis, forecasting, trajectory generation, leadership, models,
enterprise models, process modeling, project management,
crystallography, organic chemistry, DNA and proteins, etc.
And my favorite:
Diffeomorphomerty: geodesic positioning systems for human anatomy!

The Technology of Building a Houseboat
- Buoyancy (just one concept)
- Fasteners / Hardware / Joinery
- Materials: wood vs. metal vs. plastic
- Water protection / resistance / resilience
- Ventilation / heating / cooling / air flow
- Elasticity / rigidity
- Requirements planning and applications development

- Buoyancy A one gallon container
Holds 8 lbs. of water … or
A gallon of water displaces
8 lbs. of water
How much buoyancy do
we need?
How many containers?
How many people can we hold?

- Buoyancy If we have 8 guests in total
and each one weighs
180 lbs. that’s a load of
1,440 lbs. Add that to the weight of the
boat of 1,000 lbs. and you have
2,440 lbs. If you have 27 gallon containers,
you will need 12 containers to
barely float while unstable.
If we triple the number of
containers, then just one third
of their volume will be submerged
and two thirds will be above
the water, providing stability.
Yea!

The Technology & Engineering of Building a
Houseboat
Buoyancy is just one of dozens of Technological principles
or phenomenon that can be explored as a result of
designing or building or testing a geodesic houseboat.
Others include: weather, hydrodynamics, ergonomics
(relationship between man and machine), freeboard (the
effect of wind as a function of height), currents, waves,
pollution, sustainability, design, development, history,
industrial heritage, biography, architecture and art.

The Mathematics of Building a Houseboat
Mathematical principles and phenomenon (in trigonometry,
algebra and abstraction, geometry and shapes that
could be explored in conjunction with building a
geodesic houseboat could include:
Fractions and decimals, addition and subtraction,
multiplication and division, Pi – the circle constant, the
golden ratio, the equation, Pythagorean theorem, three-
dimensional solids and the five platonic solids, etc.

HOW THIS CAN MAKE STEM EDUCATION MORE FUN
AND MEANINGFUL
Which would you rather do:
A) Go to a classroom and learn about science, technology or math from an old guy who
stares at the board and has no interpersonal skills or vested interest in your education or
career or….
B) Gather with a bunch or friends and find a quiet place, ENVISION A NEW KIND OF
WIDGET, sketch it out, discuss the pros and cons of shape, type, style, size and weight.
Find a place with all kinds of new tools and equipment and MAKE SOMETHING WITH
YOUR OWN HANDS learn about process and quality and workmanship and budget.
Head out and test what you fabricated and assembled, together and see it your assumptions
and data and analysis led to an effective solution
(and in the doing, learn all about
math, science, technology , engineering and art)

NEW SOLUTIONS REVEALED
Information Technology
data (information), technology (hardware) and apps (software)
3D Organizational Representation
Interdependent Org Charts
Location Models
Goal Models
Process Models
Technology models
Data models
Enterprise Architecture
connecting strategy with people, process, data, technology and apps
Wellness model

THE GEODESIC ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE
Any family, team, organization, NFP, business or community is an
enterprise – even the human body is an enterprise.
Architecture is the framework that connects all the key components to
assure it’s stability, capability and function.
A Geodesic Enterprise Architecture (GEA) (registered trademark)
leverages the principles and mechanics of the dome to connect each
person, team, organization and community within the enterprise to
allow for more efficient (great circle) connection, leading to a more
agile, more effective performance, outcomes and results.
Example: 9/11 Catastrophe
The magnitude of the event would have been minimized (and arguably
prevented) if the role-players and the decision-makers were
interconnected in a more efficient manner, allowing for
instantaneous reaction to initial events and more
effective delivery of information and action.

Key
Processes
Key
Processes
Planning Development Deployment Satisfaction Results
Processes are
the series of
activities by
which
capabilities are
achieved.
Everything we
do is a process.
If every step of
the process
works, we
achieve capability.
Capabilities
A GEODESIC ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURAL MODEL

HOW A GEODESIC ENTERPRISE CAN HELP YOU
How more effective would your contribution be as an educator if you
Were part of an interconnected state-wide or national or global architecture?
What if you could reach out to any educator or administrator in any field in any
Location to get the information you needed, real time or that same day?
What if you could access a network of like-minded professionals who had
Already overcome the hurdles you now face as you explore your initiatives?
What if best practices were available to you, regardless of who you knew
Or how well you were “connected” in the areas you seek to gain knowledge in?
How much quicker would your initiatives achieve results and how much more
effective could they be if you were a participant in such an interconnected
enterprise framework?
NOTE: BETA TESTING COMMUNITIES ARE BEING SOUGHT!
Every participant becomes only one
Unit of distance away from any other participant!

ACHIEVING A GLOBAL STEM GEODESIC
ARCHITECTURE BY 2024!
A student
at ECC, Buffalo An HIV Clinic in
Rhodesia
A STEM boat-building
School in New Zealand
A Grant-writing
GURU in London
The internet is great, but how do you cut
Through the way the internet “interprets”
Your request / search vs. what or who you need NOW?
The Geodesic Enterprise Architecture connect you
Like never before!

THE GEODESIC ARCHITECTURE COMPONENTS
n connections
away from each and
Every participant!
you
me
others
A wrap-around, all-inclusive collection
Of all of our personal rolodex information
Presented in a holistic, interconnected
Model that allows for quicker connection.

WHAT’S WILL YOUR ROLE BE IN THE GLOBAL STEM
GEODESIC ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE SYSTEM?
• Leadership
• Strategic
• Planning
• Development
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Quality Assurance
• Customer
• Partner
• Workforce
• Results / Outcomes
• Metrics /
Performance
• Promotion /
Endorsement
• Improvement

CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED
WHAT I WANTED
In inexpensive waterfront get-away where we could enjoy the shore, nature and
the opportunity to affordable pass the time and relax
WHAT I GOT
It was revealed to me the beauty, simplicity and elegance that the universe can
provide in the form of two simple types of triangles and how they lead to not
only pentagons and hexagons, boats and vessels, but an opening to a brand
new conversation – about interconnection, frameworks and how they are all
necessary to transform the world we have to the world we seek.
After thirty years as an engineer. It surprisingly changed my view of the
world and how the things in it are related to each other.
It brought me to STEM and encouraged me to form the WNY Chapter!

FROM BOAT TO BOOK
The boat was a spectacle:
“Now, That is definitely
Something!:
Perhaps best capturing the wonder, the befuddlement, the joyfulness
and the grin that the boat evoked. We invited folks aboard from all
around the world, from Cheektowaga to New Zealand. We talked
about life, boats, Bucky and Buffalo.
It all inspired the book, Building a New and Useful Buffalo. It offers a
new geodesic-inspired perspective and model for interconnecting our
“silos of success” our mutually exclusive wonderful aspects of WNY
and how connecting them in a simple, holistic framework can
accelerate our cultural transformation.

WHAT STEM IS REALLY ALL ABOUT
Exploring the world of science, technology
engineering, math and art gives us the context
to develop our real self, to find our purpose.
The real value of STE(A)M is learning how to think,
being creative and solving problems, learning
respect for each other and building self esteem
and confidence to equip the user with the ability
to do, well… anything!

WHAT’S NEXT?

WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Thank You!
Michael R Weekes, BSIE, Lean Six Sigma
Co-founder, WNY STEM Hub
Buffalo, NY
(716) 517-7957
michaellovesbuffalo@gmail.com

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