My Turn

by Debra Mamorsky, Editor

Most everyone 'in the know' is anxiously awaiting Dean Kamen's new invention, commonly referred to as "IT." The physicist, scientist and engineer (who has already invented the portable insulin pump and, of late, the I-Bot wheelchair, which can climb stairs and maneuver all types of terrain), is expected to introduce a revolutionary new device, "It," which will herald in a dramatic change to the way in which we experience life. "It" is a well protected secret, its keeper, unwilling to announce what "It" is before it is fail proof.

To me, the much anticipated "It" has already been invented by Kamen, but nobody knows that "It" has actually been around for the past 12 years. "It" is really US FIRST, Dean Kamen's blueprint design for living life with respect, providing everyone with op-portunities to contribute to society in a meaningful way and cheers for everyone who does.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) does more than give high school students an opportunity to build robots that compete in regional competitions and an annual National competition in Orlando, Florida. FIRST achieves many things that many other politicians, "experts in the field," and talking heads have been unable to do, either through legislation, or just by talking. "It" creates the eye-opening foundation for kids to see opportunities, not limitations, that support a myriad of much-needed social and economic skills and talents our society requires. As Kamen says, "The consequences of being the fifth best, or the fourth best, or the third best dribbler in the country is that you can make a million dollars playing basketball in this country. The consequences of being the tenth best, or hundredth, or thousandth best, means you are unemployable." Josh Rigberg points out in his article, Science Super Stars, which features his interview with Kamen, that over 1.8 million jobs went unfilled in science and technology, alone, due to a dearth of unqualified people. Kamen, through US First, hopes to help fill that void.

The other extremely signif-icant effect of "it" is that "it" brings kids of all capabilities, all races, and all genders together to create something special. Attending a competition at Columbia University, I was incredibly moved by the fact that this mosaic of young, humankind was cheering, quite loudly I might add, for their shared academic project. Everyone was a shareholder in a common goal. This wonderful ideal that took shape is precisely what moved me–that everyone has an important role to play in our shared lives.