“The U.S. education system is not as internationally competitive as it used to be. The rest of the developed world is catching up, and some countries are surpassing the United States in high school and college completion, all while spending much less per student. ”
—A really scary report from the Council on Foreign Relations on the trajectory of U.S. education.
“Resilience is an ongoing, delicate process balancing toughness and tenderness.”
—Social psychologist Amy Cuddy at PopTech 2012
“Whether or not we're motivated into compassion is not determined by the severity of a disaster – it's determined by whether or not we see ourselves in the victims. ”
—Psychologist David DeSteno, director of Northeastern University’s Social Emotions Lab and author of the excellent Out of Character: Surprising Truths About the Liar, Cheat, Sinner (and Saint) Lurking in All of Us, at PopTech 2012.#IAmScience is blowing up! The stories behind scientists
poptech.orgFrom PopTech:
Inspired by a post by science writer and marine biologist Kevin Zelnio written after he attended the Science Online Conference, the hashtag has been a fascinating way to learn the varied backgrounds of people who now make their careers in the sciences; people who were homeless as teens, became interested in science when a friend got sick and are now working on a cure, or as kids who performed stress-tests with tarantulas on their arachnophobic dads.
In its short existence, the movement has already grown beyond a hashtag: there’s now a Storify page, a music video and Tumblr logs of both archived tweets and stories and pictures of cool scientists doing cool things.
In the often self-serving and solipsistic world of social media, it’s refreshing to see real stories being told and real connections being made through sharing experiences. Student neuroscientist and self-described science geek @katiesci tweeted “We are a bunch of misfits who found what we love.” As #iamscience demonstrates, sometimes when you whisper into an echo chamber, a thousand voices answer back.
Need inspiration today? Need to know that there’s a place for your unique story? Read theirs.
Hayat Sindi: inspiring change in Mideast through i2 insitute launch
Scientist, inventor, Harvard and Cambridge graduate, Saudi Arabian native and pioneer—Dr. Hayat Sindi is an inspiring woman, a powerful force in the advancement of science, social good and a sign towards the emerging cultural shift in the role of women in a conservative region.
Today at PopTech, Sindi launched her latest project, the Institute for Imagination and Ingenuity, (i2 institute) which focuses on encouraging entrepreneurship in the Arab community amidst an unemployment rate of over 40% and a rapidly growing youth population entering the workforce. The website states “Our mission is to create an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and social innovation for scientists, technologists and engineers in the Middle East and beyond.” Wolff Olins and PopTech collaborated with Sindi to develop the brand and identity around her platform.
“I believe that we can put science and society hand in hand and we should customize science for the benefit of the developing world. Small people can achieve big dreams.” Sindi stated. She also hopes that “i2 will make stories like hers less exceptional and more possible for every young innovator.”
