Hi All,
Today I had a blast photographing the Babbage Difference Engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Difference_engine at Intellectual Ventures https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_Ventures in Bellevue today. I'll have the photos uploaded to Commons shortly.
I spoke with Paul C. Cabellon, who does public relations at Intellectual Ventures about updating articles related to their research, and contributing content, with consideration for COI issues. Paul wants to add updated photos about the Mosquito laser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_laser to Commons, and have others like me visit to photograph that project, and others. The company is working to be as open as possible with their lab research and would like to work with the Cascadia editors to improve coverage on these topics. There's a rocket engine there next to the Difference Engine, and they have an enormous Tesla coil set up. Lowell Wood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Wood was wandering around while I was there.
I suggested that Mako might want to involve some of his students in trips to the lab to gather information about these projects like the mosquito laser and others (vaccine storage, nuclear power etc).
So the issue is working out how to take advantage of this opportunity to photograph the equipment and exhibits there, and update the related articles with more recent published information, without promoting Intellectual Ventures or creating other neutrality problems. I suggested that Paul Cabellon join Wikimedia Cascadia and subscribe to this list to discuss further with us both sending editors there, and attending editor recruiting and training events.
Dennis Bratland