About Sputnik Observatory

Sputnik Observatory is a New York not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to the study of contemporary culture. We fulfill this mission by documenting, archiving, and disseminating ideas that are shaping modern thought by interviewing leading thinkers in the arts, sciences and technology from around the world. Our philosophy is that ideas are NOT selfish, ideas are NOT viruses. Ideas survive because they fit in with the rest of life. Our position is that ideas are energy, and should interconnect and re-connect continuously because by linking ideas together we learn, and new ideas emerge.

Our goal is to encourage life-long learning, and we have created this website as a portal of possibilities. A democratic space where people can listen and engage with ideas that inform contemporary history. Ideas that we believe will empower everyone to be a part of today’s cultural conversation.

Sputnik Observatory was established in 2003 by the principals of Sputnik Inc. who dedicated their own resources to self-fund the launch of this website. We hope your experience ignites discussion and you join us in the effort to collectively imagine and re-imagine our world. Please visit often, discover new avenues of exploration, and share what you want, when you want.

The word “Sputnik” means fellow traveler. We look forward to venturing on this voyage together.

Ideas are energy.
Your brain is a satellite.
Out there is your mind.

Goals

Our belief that ideas are energy, and that leading contemporary ideas should be shared, explored, re-interpreted and re-imagined, is the premise for all of Sputnik Observatory’s central activities.

The Sputnik Observatory aims to:

• Continually build our knowledgebase of interconnected ideas and encourage people to explore, discuss and share these ideas through the Sputnik Observatory website.
  
  
• Publish cultural books, magazines and miscellaneous programs that serve, inform and direct our understanding of contemporary culture.
  
  
• Produce media programs and mobile shorts that provide a provocative glance at the movements being shaped in culture today.
  
  
• Encourage the public to join in the discussion and debate of ideas with leading global experts at live cultural events hosted worldwide.
  
  
• Establish a physical cultural institute in New York City where events, exhibitions, films, digital and physical archival access will be available to the public free of charge.
  
  
• Create interdisciplinary learning tools for public education institutes and educators globally that will stimulate and broaden the inquisitive minds of students.

Contacts

• General information :
• Technical assistance :
• Questions, thoughts, suggestions :
• Press / media inquiries :
• To become a partner :
• To make a financial contribution (more info here) :

Sputnik Observatory
241 Centre Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10013
Map

Tel: 212.714.0900
Fax: 212.714.1590