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Naming Rights Policy Drafted (October 3, 2009) - Many of the innovations being developed for humaneering technology need names, which has created the opportunity to recognize people with a notable role in these developments. A naming rights policy is being developed, and the proposed draft considers financial and intellectual contributions as equivalent justification for naming.

In a working draft for a naming rights policy, the Board makes clear that the Institute will adopt any existing science or practice discipline-specific terms when the named concept is similarly utilized within humaneering technology. Such terms are typically based on the concept's "founder" or characterize the action or impact of the concept named.

However, beyond these specific terms, the Institute is frequently faced with situations wherein important humaneering concepts (a) are somewhat unique and have no corresponding term that is consistently applied and interpreted within any existing science or practice discipline, or (b) are assigned different terms by different (i.e., competing) science or practice disciplines. In these cases, the Institute is interested in honoring the individual(s) most responsible for development of the concept.

As a starting point, the Institute will examine the history behind the creation of the concept and see to understand who was involved, and how, in this process. If an individual scholar or practitioner, or group of scholars or practitioners, was most responsible, then the preference will be to develop a name or term for the concept that honors the intellectual founder(s).

However, if it is not clear that one person or group played a dominant role in the development of the concept, then the Institute will consider naming the concept for a person or group that played a different yet equally important role in the concept's development (e.g., financial support). In effect, substantial financial contributors to the Institute, whether preceding or following the development of a concept in need of a name, will be considered as a possible source for this name, in honor of their equally critical contribution.

Two financial-support namings are currently under consideration by the Board, and additional concepts are available for naming in this manner.

For further information, please contact us.