About us
Conceived in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil in 2009 and incorporated in London in October 2011, Earth 2 Hub™ gives new science and technology an immersive media platform that supports the interchange of ideas through engagement, participation and interaction. Presenting new scientific facts and futures as they emerge to a global community, Earth 2 Hub™ aims to be experiential and enabling, promoting innovative and far-sighted possibilities, supporting the community to break the boundaries of conventional thought, and to promote the adoption of new developments. Our team brings together international expertise in audio, visual and film art, science, sustainability, design, media, communications and digital. Our model sits at the intersection of science fact and science fiction, applying the very latest creative technologies, including apps, CGI and augmented reality, to science to inject it with new life and alternative perspectives.
During its alpha phase, Earth 2 Hub™ launched a series of experimental media projects that included the short film Earth 2.0: Initialization, which premiered at the Sci-Fi London Film Festival in April 2011; Earth 2.0® magazine and blog, featuring interviews and guest contributions from pioneering thinkers in science, art and digital; #Earth2Chat exploring themes including pop-up cities, smart technologies and biomimicry; participation in several online media projects and events organised by members of our growing network of collaborators and partners. Behind the scenes, we spent several months researching and developing the projects and partnerships that we're exploring in our beta phase, from March 2013 onwards. Embracing citizen science, DIY technology, 3D printing and crowd funding, we're taking a hands-on approach to exploring the innovations that may help humanity to build a brighter future. Pop on our 'Projects', 'Films', 'People' and 'Blog' pages to find out more about our past, present and planned activities.
"A groundbreaking digital media platform conceived by some of the brightest, most forward-thinking people on the planet, Earth 2 Hub™ encourages the discussion and implementation of cutting-edge scientific and technological innovation by engaging with the global community through social media, cloud technologies, and smart technology."
- InHabitat
our team
Frank Da Silva
Board, Steering CommitTee, Co-Founding Director - Head of Creative
Frank has been traversing the creative industries since the late 80s. His travels have taken him through the worlds of advertising, online marketing, web development, filmmaking, media production and entrepreneurship. Having previously co-founded two start-ups between 2001 and 2005, in 2009 Frank founded Velatropa Films to produce engaging documentaries and interactive media. In 2011 he co-founded Earth 2 Hub™ and produced and directed the short film series Earth 2.0: Initialization. When not whittling away on Earth 2.0® projects, Frank enjoys science fiction, photography, model building, the great outdoors and swotting up on the latest geek gadgetry.
Melissa Sterry
Board, Steering Committee - Head of Technology
A world-renown design scientist and futurist, Earth 2 Hub™ co-founder Melissa is the go-to-guru on urban, design, technology and media futures. An award-winning social entrepreneur and innovator, she has over a decade’s board-level experience in pioneering digital and sustainability start-ups. Several years spent in art and design school in her teens and early twenties underpin a life-long commitment to academia; a visiting fellow, lecturer and guest critic at several European universities, Melissa is a PhD researcher at the Advanced Virtual and Technological Architecture Research group. A seasoned speaker with over thirty keynotes under her belt, published in 60+ publications and with a press and media file bigger than you could shake a stick at, Melissa flies the Earth 2.0® flag far and wide. A nature-junkie with research interests in biomimetics, her preferred field trip involves sunshine by day and stars by night.
Nicholas Pilbrow
Board, Steering Committee - Head of Operations
Chartered accountant Nicholas handles Earth 2 Hub™ operations, including keeping Companies House and HMRC up to speed with what we're doing. A member of Robert Fraser & Partners LLP in London, Nicholas has been involved in the creation, organisation and implementation of financial structures for media, hotel and marine projects worldwide. A partner in Orion Network Consultants LLP and Orion Network Films LLP, which funded Earth 2 Hub™'s alpha, Nicholas is an intrepid explorer who loves nothing more than to 'climb every mountain'. When at lower altitudes, Nicholas can be spotted at the opera, galleries and arts festivals.
Susan McPherson
Non-Executive Director
Our non-executive board member Susan is one of the most respected women in sustainability. The senior vice president/director of global marketing at leading public interest communications firm Fenton, Susan creates global visibility for the firm and its clients, while also continuing to help further grow the corporate responsibility practice. A regular writer and contributor for publications such as the Harvard Business Review, Triple Pundit, Forbes and Environmental Leader on sustainability and global development issues, Susan routinely speaks at industry conferences. She has more than 20 years experience in marketing, public relations, CSR communications and business development. A lover of dogs, beaches and the ocean waves, when not moving and shaking in the world of business, Susan can often be found in an idyllic island setting somewhere extremely exotic.
Mark Raimondeau
board, steering Committee - Head of Design
A multidisciplinary designer, art director and inventor, Mark leads design at Earth 2 Hub™. Having founded his design studio in 1999, Mark has built a legacy of technical and architectural renderings and 3D animations for an impressive range of architects, interior designers, TV stations and post-production companies in the USA, Europe and Middle East. However, his talents don't stop there; Mark has created EV and hybrid designs for the automotive industry, including cars and charging stations, the first of which went on display at the Geneva Auto Show 2011. A globe-trotting bilinguist, Mark has lived in several countries including Egypt, Hungary, France and UK. A keen scuba-diver, he's never happier than when under the ocean waves.
