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Producing New Innovations and Innovators— |
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"Nurturing Innovation for Problems Big and Small" by C. D. (Dan) Mote, Jr., Clark School of Engineering—November 4
Abstract Innovation occupies our attention because it is the solution of almost every major or minor problem today. How will we raise the quality of life for every citizen? How will we sustain a competitive national economy? How will we increase the safety of foods, develop alternative energy, ensure national security, reduce health care costs, fight pandemics, and so on? The answer is always the same—through innovation. We will discuss nurturing innovation. We will review the history that has led to the current state of innovation and the global connectivity that has expanded both the pace of innovative development and the scale of problems seeking innovative solutions. "How an Engineer Became a Senator" by The Honorable Ted Kaufman (D—Del.)—November 11
Abstract Today, the most pressing issue we face is economic recovery, chiefly job creation. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—or STEM—fields will be essential to long-term job growth. As the only sitting senator in the 111th Congress who worked as an engineer, I felt it was my duty to invest in STEM education. While surveys show that young people want to "make a difference" with their lives, often they do not see engineering as a way to do that. During my term in office, I stressed the need to make students and policymakers more aware that engineers have always been the world's problem solvers. To achieve this, students need better preparation in STEM subjects at the K-12 level. If we can attract more students into engineering fields, we can increase our capacity for high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship, which will lead to the kind of job creation that can fuel our economy for a generation.
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Students Welcome! November 4: November 11: Follow the Lectures on Twitter
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