Human Transporter inventor Dean Kamen segued from innovation to activism last night, imploring engineers to be more active in the world around them.
After briefly describing the innovation process that yielded the Segway -- a self-balancing human transporter -- Kamen delivered a three-pronged call for the increased involvement of engineers in society.
"The technology community, particularly in the United States, does not have a voice," Kamen said during last night's Harold Berger Award ceremony.
The award is presented biannually by the Penn School of Engineering and Applied Science to a technological inventor who has made a lasting contribution to the quality of life for many.
Speaking to an audience of 165 students, alumni and fellow engineers in the Engineering School's Wu and Chen Auditorium, Kamen recounted how the ideas of engineers can accelerate solutions to world crises. His recent work revamping the traditional Stirling engine could help to solve the world's largest health problem -- access to clean water.
"Eight percent of all people that are sick are sick because they don't have access to clean water," he said.
Developing countries often lack the large, stable government necessary to implement the large-scale power and water purification technology advocated by the United Nations and World Bank, he said.
Direct, personal technology -- like the new engine that Kamen has designed -- allows countries to develop at their own pace while providing crucial access to water and electricity.
"If you take two little boxes with power and water, you ... become Con Edison for the world," Kamen said.
Kamen also addressed the declining number of engineers in American society.
"Last year the U.S. graduated 62,000 engineers. We graduated more students last year with degrees in sports management."
Kamen compared the United States to India and China, which "put 3.4 million [engineers] into their workforce."
Kamen said the decline in American engineering is a cultural problem. Captivated with dreams of reaching Hollywood or the NBA, children are not exposed to the thrills of engineering, he added.
Pat Rexing, a third-year Engineering graduate student, was surprised by Kamen's criticism of American attitudes on engineering.
"I didn't see that coming. I thought he would talk about the Segway and what he did since."
Engineering and Wharton junior Edward Yang said he was surprised at Kamen's description of the U.S. education system. "I hope it's not as bad as he painted it."
