Interview With Dean Kamen (Part I): Encourage Kids To Develop The Muscle Between Their Ears

12 Aug

This  Sunday, ABC will host a special science and engineering competition and concert through a unique collaboration between inventor Dean Kamen and Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am. Dean was very kind to take some time to chat with me today about FIRST, a truly inspiring initiative that’s getting kids to excited about problem-solving while fostering creativity. I’ll share highlights from our conversation in a series of posts through tomorrow.

Sheril Kirshenbaum: Tell me about FIRST.

Dean Kamen: Twenty years ago it was harder to tell people what FIRST wasn’t than what it was. There were plenty of science fairs and activities, and we weren’t addressing a supply problem. Instead FIRST is about creating demand from kids, which is sadly lacking across the country. We want to encourage them to be passionate about developing the muscle between their ears.

In our name you notice “education” isn’t there: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. What I said then and what I say today–and now Will.i.am says it better than I do—is that if we can just make science and engineering as fun as sports and entertainment, most of the problem would go away.

Right now we need jobs and kids are celebrating athletics. You have to do is ask the question, how many jobs are out there for professional athletes? How many kids will make a penny in sport careers? But contrast that with how many jobs there are waiting for kids in science and technology. People are listening more today about why we need kids to be focused on science, engineering, technology, and mathematics because they are seeing the ways that they are tied to security, the economy, healthcare, and jobs. All require that young people excel at being able to solve the ever more complex problems.

More from my conversation with Dean coming later this afternoon…

Read Part II and Part III of our conversation and make sure to tune in to ABC on Sunday with your family at 7pm to celebrate science and technology. Watch and get involved. To learn more about this incredible organization (driven almost entirely by volunteers), visit usfirst.org. Here is one of the many excellent videos featured on the i.am.FIRST website:

3 Responses to “Interview With Dean Kamen (Part I): Encourage Kids To Develop The Muscle Between Their Ears”

  1. jelena August 13, 2011 at 1:03 am #

    Star struck that the science lady interviewed the guy who’s invention philosophy is: you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.

    Reply
  2. Sheril Kirshenbaum August 13, 2011 at 1:32 am #

    I didn’t know that, but it’s perfect! Thanks Jelena :)

    Reply

Trackbacks and Pingbacks

  1. Wescott’s Weekly Update – Best of the Science Blogs. | Science Cheerleader - August 20, 2011

    [...] An Interview with Dean Kamen.  Sheril Kirshenbaum has struck out on her own – she has a new blog called Culture of Science.  She scored a great Interview with Dean Kamen, an inventor who is working with will. i. am. of the Black Eyed Peas on a project called FIRST.  The interview is in three parts – check it out!  And check out FIRST! [...]

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