Welcome to The Connected Ideas Project
An Introduction to the world of deep tech, creativity, and personal adventure
Welcome to The Connected Ideas Project! Or as I’ll more often refer to it, TCIP. This is an expansion of the Co-Evolution newsletter that you’ve been following along with for a while. Co-Evolution: Tech, Policy, and Our Lives will carry on as usual, with new editions coming out every Tuesday.
TCIP is an expansion of Co-Evolution based on feedback I’ve received, where we’ll spend time examining technology and our lives, with a bit of personal journey thrown in for good measure.
I’ve spent my career navigating the intersections of AI, biotechnology, synthetic biology, and the natural world, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. My experiences have ranged from developing cutting-edge technologies to exploring the wilderness on backcountry adventures. I’ve held leadership roles in various organizations across industry, government, and academia. Whether I’m leading teams or riding my bike across continents, one thing remains constant: my drive to connect ideas across disciplines, sectors, and experiences.
That’s what TCIP is all about—connecting ideas, pushing boundaries, and blending seemingly unrelated concepts into something new and powerful.
In this newsletter, you’ll get a glimpse into how I approach life and work, the lessons I’ve learned along the way, and the insights I’ve gained from my career at the intersection of technology and human experience. Through TCIP, I’ll be sharing reflections on emerging deep-tech topics like AI and biotechnology, the importance of personal growth, and how adventure can fuel creativity. Together, we’ll explore what it means to live at the cutting edge while staying grounded in our passions.
So, let’s dive into the core themes of TCIP—four guiding principles that shape everything I do—and a bonus fifth theme, because, why not add a little extra?
Core Theme 1: The Ridgeline—Innovation at the Cutting Edge
At the heart of TCIP is a constant pursuit of innovation. I call this the Ridgeline—the place where we explore the cutting edge of science, technology, and the future of humanity.
The Ridgeline is that narrow path on the mountain’s edge, where each step pushes you further into the unknown. For me, this symbolizes my work in deep-tech, and in particular synthetic biology, AI, and biotechnology. Whether it’s exploring new frontiers in gene editing or developing AI systems to transform healthcare, the Ridgeline represents the pursuit of progress through experimentation and risk.
The Ridgeline is where innovation happens—where the bold ideas live. It’s where people aren’t afraid to challenge what’s already known and accepted, and where transformative breakthroughs are born. In TCIP, we’ll explore these cutting-edge innovations, analyzing the latest advancements in technology, science, and the future of human experience.
What can you expect in this space? Thought pieces on the newest developments in deep tech, explorations of “ridge technologies” that are reshaping industries, and discussions on the ethical and societal impacts of emerging tech. We’ll look at how these advancements are being applied in the real world and what they mean for the future of humanity. The Ridgeline is about looking forward—and sometimes, looking beyond what’s immediately visible to ask, “What if?”
Core Theme 2: The Tapestry—Weaving Together Diverse Perspectives
The second theme of TCIP is the Tapestry—the rich and complex weave of ideas, cultures, disciplines, and perspectives that come together to form the fabric of innovation and progress.
Throughout my career, I’ve found that true innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s often the result of cross-disciplinary collaboration, of bringing together different fields and ways of thinking to solve complex problems. Just as a tapestry is made up of many threads, the best ideas are born when we connect seemingly unrelated concepts and disciplines.
The Tapestry theme reflects the importance of diversity—diversity of thought, experience, and background. Whether it’s combining biology and AI to create synthetic organisms or blending outdoor adventures with scientific exploration, the Tapestry is where all of these elements come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts.
In TCIP, we’ll explore how this concept applies to our modern world. We’ll look at case studies of interdisciplinary innovation, highlight the importance of diverse voices in scientific and technological advancements, and explore how bringing together different perspectives can solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. From blending artistic creativity with hard science to integrating cultural diversity into tech development, The Tapestry reminds us that the world is richer when we connect the threads.
Core Theme 3: Ad Astra Per Alia Porci—To the Stars, on the Wings of a Pig
Ad Astra Per Alia Porci—or “To the Stars on the Wings of a Pig”—is a whimsical phrase that embodies a spirit of bold, audacious dreaming, inspired by John Steinbeck’s Pigasus. This is the third core theme of TCIP, and it’s all about embracing the seemingly impossible.
Throughout history, humanity’s greatest achievements have often been considered impossible at first. Whether it’s landing a man on the moon, decoding the human genome, or creating artificial intelligence, progress comes from those who dream big and dare to pursue the audacious. That’s what Ad Astra means to me: it’s about aiming for the stars, even when the odds seem stacked against you. It’s about embracing the challenges, the failures, and the risk of dreaming too big. It’s also about the humility required to fail over and over again without getting discouraged.
In TCIP, this theme will surface in stories of innovation and perseverance. We’ll explore the wild ideas that push us beyond the limits of what we think is possible. Whether it’s the next technological leap or an ambitious personal goal, Ad Astra Per Alia Porci reminds us that progress is built on bold dreams and relentless pursuit.
Expect to read stories of ambitious tech startups, breakthrough innovations, and personal reflections on how I’ve applied this mindset to my own career and how others have done the same in theirs. Ad Astra Per Alia Porci is a call to dream big, and I’ll be sharing examples of how audacity can drive innovation and change the world.
Core Theme 4: Humanity—The Personal Stories
No matter how far technology advances, the human element remains at the core of everything. The fourth theme of TCIP is the Humanity, a reminder that behind every breakthrough, every discovery, and every innovation, there’s a human story.
In my own journey, I’ve had the opportunity to blend science and adventure, as well as career and personal growth. Whether it’s biking thousands of miles with my wife, quitting a job to pursue graduate school, or navigating the complexities of career transitions, these experiences have shaped who I am and how I approach both work and life. Personal stories are powerful—they remind us of the real people behind the ideas and innovations we see in the world.
In TCIP, I’ll share my personal reflections on life, work, and everything in between. These stories will touch on career lessons, work-life balance, and the intersection of professional success and personal passion. You’ll hear about how outdoor adventures fuel creativity, how career setbacks became opportunities, and how personal growth drives professional impact.
I’ll also feature the stories of others—people who are making waves in their fields, balancing bold careers with rich personal lives, and pushing boundaries in unique ways. Through these stories, we’ll explore how personal journeys intersect with larger themes of innovation and progress.
Bonus Theme: Science Fiction—Exploring the Future Through Imagination
As a bonus, I’m adding a fifth theme to TCIP: Science Fiction. This one is for the dreamers, the futurists, and those who love to imagine what comes next.
Science fiction has long been a medium for exploring the big questions—what is humanity’s future? What happens when technology evolves beyond our control? What are the ethical implications of creating life, sentient AI, or advanced genetic engineering? These are questions I’ve grappled with in my professional work, and science fiction offers a creative outlet to explore them.
From time to time, TCIP will dive into hard science fiction that’s grounded in real-world science and technology. I’ll be sharing short stories, novellas, and reflections that use science fiction as a way to stretch the imagination and think about the long-term future of humanity. These stories will be subtle in their themes, but they’ll be rooted in the same principles that drive my work: innovation, interconnectedness, audacity, and human experience.
Expect to find dystopian futures, AI-driven societies, and explorations of biotechnology in ways that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. These stories are a way for us to imagine what could be—and to ask the question, “What if?”
What to Expect from the Newsletter
The Connected Ideas Project newsletter is your guide to exploring the intersection of technology, personal growth, and the future of humanity. Every Friday edition will focus on one of the core themes, with occasional dips into science fiction to keep things interesting.
Here’s what you can expect:
Insightful Explorations of Innovation: I’ll be breaking down the latest advancements in AI, biotech, and synthetic biology, analyzing what these developments mean for the future and how they impact our lives.
Personal Reflections on Work and Life: Expect stories of career lessons, personal challenges, and how I’ve navigated the balance between professional ambition and personal passion, and how others do the same.
Interdisciplinary Connections: We’ll explore how different fields intersect, from art and technology to science and philosophy, and how these connections drive progress.
Stories of Audacity: I’ll share stories of people, companies, and ideas that have pushed beyond the impossible, and how those daring dreams are shaping the world.
Occasional Sci-Fi Forays: For those who love to speculate about the future, I’ll share original science-fiction stories that explore the ethical, societal, and technological implications of the world we’re building.
Whether you’re a technologist, a creative, an adventurer, or someone who’s simply curious about the future, TCIP is here to inspire, challenge, and connect. We’ll explore the cutting edge of innovation while staying grounded in the human experience, blending the audacity of bold dreams with the richness of personal stories.
Thanks for joining me on this journey. Let’s push the boundaries and stay connected.
Cheers,
-Titus