I was relieved when Alan Macy wanted to meet me at The Wildcat for cocktails rather than over lunch, as I felt a bit intimidated and could use a drink. He’s one of the most multifaceted and accomplished people I’ve ever met.
Alan is the founder of BIOPAC Systems, which designs and sells data collection and analysis tools, such as electrodes, transducers, and amplifiers, used by life scientists and researchers to interpret the signals of various biological processes. But he’s also an artist who specializes in interactive sculptures and environments.
Most importantly, Alan is the mastermind behind the Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science, and Technology. SBCAST, as its commonly known, is an “arts incubator” community on lower Garden Street where artists, scientists, and other creatives live and work, with their rents partially subsidized. That project was the subject of a wonderful cover story by Charles Donelan in The Independent in 2016 and Alan was also honored by the paper as a Local Hero in 2017 .