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Academion
History > 030 to 900 AT: Interplanetary Era > 030 to 130 AT: The Information Age
A
Galactography > Places and Locales
A
Galactography > Places and Locales
Artificial Island in the North Sea, Old Earth |
 Image from Bernd Helfert |
Background
Founded by Aristos, a front company of various European universities in 2032 c.e.(63 A.T), after EU dept of education stated goal of "standardising" all European education. Consists of a network of geodesic domes covering an artificial island built by the EU three years earlier as an experiment. Later sold to cover construction costs.Academion was noted as a centre for research into human genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. Like other artificial islands in the region (such as Lyonesse and Doggerland), Academion encouraged the study of these subjects, despite being strictly regulated and discouraged elsewhere.
Several important breakthoughs in artificial intelligence, human genetic engineering and nanotechnology were acheived here, before the Academion Free State was re-established in orbit in 120 A.T. The following information is taken from the CIA worldbook for Academion Free State, 2044 c.e. (75 A.T.) edition, preserved in the Luna Historical Databanks.
Geography
Location: North Sea, approximately 120nm from Norwegian coastlineGeographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 03 00 E
Continental affiliation: Europe
Area: total: 7.07 sq km
land: 7 sq km
water: 0.07 sq km
Area - comparative:
Land boundaries: 0 kmBorder countries: none
Coastline: 9.5 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: Artificially controlled
Terrain:
Elevation extremes: lowest point: North Sea 0mhighest point: highest point: Academion Clocktower 164m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 10%
other: 90% (2041 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
People
Population: 22,326 (2044 est.)Age structure: 0-14 years: 12%
15-64 years: 80%
65 years and over: 8%
Population growth rate: 6.6% (2044 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Net migration rate: 32.7 per 1000
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.0 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.0 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.4 male(s)/female
total population: 1.15 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 0 deaths/1000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 120.84 years
male: 118.72 years
female: 122.95 years (2044 est.)
note: Telomere therapy standard for all inhabitants as of 2043
Nationality: noun: Academion(s)
adjective: Academion
Ethnic groups: Various
Religions: Atheist (Official), Various
Languages: English (Official), Various
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Free State of Academionconventional short form: Academion
Data code: AC
Dependency status: NA
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: University administration buildings
Independence: 18 July 2032
National holiday: Founding Day (18 July)
Constitution: 20 July 2032
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Doctor GEORGE SOUTH (since 9 September 2040)
head of government: Doctor GEORGE SOUTH (since 9 September 2040)
cabinet: Heads of Departments, selected by academic staff plus student representative, support staff representatives and Finance representative.
Legislative branch: Legislative branch: Academic board (42 seats - selected by popular vote each academic year)
elections: 10 November 2044
note: No political parties, head of state is selected from heads of departments, serves until retirement from post.
Judicial branch: Academic Review, Criminal Court, Academic Board
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: Island residents association, Student council, Union of university workers
International organization participation: ESA, EFTA, Foresight institute, IAEA, IMF, Interpol, OECD, UN, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (handled by UN delegation)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Flag description: none
Economy
Economy - overview: Academion benefits offshore banking, scientific research, freeport status, teaching and its status as an international conference center. the financial sector accounts for 52% of GDP, patent royalties, student fees, research contracts and satellite launch facilities also generate revenue.GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.9 Billion (2044 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0%
industry: 5%
services: 95%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (2043)
Labor force: 12,211
Labor force - by occupation: services 95%, industry 5%, agriculture 0%
Unemployment rate: 0% (2044)
Industries: banking and finance, scientific research, education, satellite launch, hydroponics, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 570 million kWh (2044)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 5%
nuclear: 90%
other: 5% (2044)
Electricity - consumption: 520 million kWh (2044)
Electricity - exports: 50 million kWh (2044)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2044)
Agriculture - products: none
Exports: Exports - commodities: (principally reexports)
Exports - partners: UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, US
Imports: Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners: UK, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, US
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - donor: none
Currency: 1 Academion Credit = 100 Centicredits
Exchange rate: 1 AC = 2.5 euros
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications
bandwidth number: 22 Tbit/sTelephones - mobile cellular: 206,159 (2044 est.)
Telephone system: general assessment: integrated automatic digital telephone system domestic: NA
international: 3 satellite base stations; 2 submarine cables
Internet country code: edu
Computers: 386,980
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 9 (2044 est.)
Internet users: 22,326 (2044 est.)
Digital Subscriber World Link (DSWLs): 12
Transportation
Railways: total: NAHighways: total: 12Km
paved: 12Km
unpaved: 0km
Waterways: NA
Pipelines: NA
Ports and harbors: Academion
Merchant marine: total: 7
ships by type: satellite launch vessels 2, passenger vessels 4, cargo vessels 1
Airports: 1 (2044 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
Runway length 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 0
Heliports: 1 (2044 est.)
Military
Military branches: note: defense is the responsibility of NorwayTransnational Issues
Disputes, international: independence dispute with EU, research into nanotechnology, research into human genetic engineering, research into artificial intelligence, research into cognitive scienceRelated Articles
- Atlantis (artificial island) - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Economic / Academic / Cultural Free Zone and independent polity built on an artificial island off the Caribbean, tax and data haven during the middle and late Information and early Interplanetary Age, Old Earth. - Europe
- Lyonesse - Text by Steve Bowers
Artificial island built in the English Channel as a Free State, established in 78 A.T.. A centre for research into artificial intelligence and measures against anthropogenic global warming.
Appears in Topics
Development Notes
Text by Ben Higginbottom
Initially published on 21 September 2001.
Initially published on 21 September 2001.
