The Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4is) was delighted to host the second Foundations of Interstellar Studies Workshop (FISW II), between 27 and 30 June 2019 at The Bone Mill, its headquarters in Charfield, Gloucestershire, UK. The workshop was highly successful, with participants discussing many aspects of deep space and interstellar flight, from living in deep space through advanced propulsion concepts to the engineering of architectural megastructures.
FISW II will be the last event that i4is holds at The Bone Mill. While the wonderful nineteenth-century building has served us well, we have encountered several challenges in making it into a viable headquarters for i4is. The most significant of these has been the high level of business rates levied by the local council, despite us being a not-for-profit organisation. Having been unsuccessful in our appeal against the council’s decision, we reluctantly came to the conclusion that we would have to close the HQ with effect from 1 July 2019.
We have thoroughly enjoyed the nearly two years for which The Bone Mill has been i4is's headquarters, and we will take away many very positive memories of our time there. I4is will continue to operate exactly as it does now in all other respects. While we are moving on from our HQ, i4is is still going from strength to strength.