STEM SMART - The Sign of Thinks to Come

"To make a big impact, you must take a big risk." - Salim Ismail

 

Today I was blown away. Not by the stormy weather Sarasota is having today, but by the astounding facts and knowledge Salim Ismail made during the Gulf Coast Community Foundation's Better Together luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton. 

The invitation mentioned it would be "mind-expanding." I couldn't agree more. 

You can't venture into a good magazine, newspaper or online news journal without finding information about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

There was so much to takeaway from today's presentation, but I've chosen a few "mind-expanders" that I wanted to share with you.

"Mind- Expanders"

- In 2011, at Singularity University, they received 2,200 applications from 109 countries for their student graduate program. (A 10-week interdisciplinary program for top students and entrepreneurial leaders worldwide, aimed at solving some of our most pressing challenges) After more than 300 hours of lectures from 160 different professors, students are sent out on their own project. Would you like to know the guidelines? 

• 3 weeks
• Effect a billion people in 10 years 
• Global Issue

If I would have received those requirements - I would have probably said, "Sayonara!"

- One of the brilliant ideas that came from these students was Matternet. Matternet is a roadless production of carrying goods from one place to another via electric planes in Africa...check this video out.

- As if that wasn't enough awesomeness for a speech, how about a car that has driven 200,000 miles without any accidents?! Oh...and let me add one thing, no one is driving it either. It's called the Google Car*. And the state of Nevada has just made them legal on the road. (Woah...)

- Other Cool facts: 

• Did you know Algae can produce 10,000 gallons of fuel?
• 80% of Apples revenue comes from products that weren't around 5-years-ago.
• We have no idea why we sleep for 1/3 of our lives. 

What Next?

The core question on everyone's minds is: How to engage the next generation in science, technology, engineering and math. Easy. Give them the tools, let the creativity flourish in the classroom and watch the results.

Take Stock in Children is partnering with STEM and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation on something BIG. Announcement is soon to follow.

Salim Ismail's Bio:

Salim Ismail is a sought-after speaker, strategist and entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley. He travels extensively addressing topics including breakthrough technologies and their impact on a variety of industries.

Salim spent the last three years building Singularity University as its founding Executive Director and current Global Ambassador.  SU is based at NASA Ames and is training a new generation of leaders to manage exponentially growing technologies. Before that he built and ran Brickhouse, Yahoo’s internal incubator. His last company, Angstro, was sold to Google in August 2010. He has founded or operated seven early-stage companies including PubSub Concepts, which laid some of the foundation for the real-time web.  Salim also serves on the board of Breakthrough, a global human rights organization.

* Foul Language, please advise. 

- Dana Bakich
@TSIChildrenSRQ
@dbakich17