Overview of the Speaker:
Introduction of Dr. Michelle Larson as the moderator and Dean Kamen as the speaker. Dean Kamen is an inventor, entrepreneur, and advocate for science and technology. He holds over 440 U.S. and foreign patents, including innovative medical devices. Kamen founded several companies, including Auto Syringe, Deca Research and Development Corporation, and FIRST.

FIRST: Inspiring the Next Generation:
Kamen is passionate about motivating the next generation to engage with science and technology. He founded FIRST in 1989, an organization serving over 400,000 young people in over 80 countries. FIRST aims to foster interest and enjoyment in science and technology among youth.

Kamen’s Humble Perspective:
Kamen acknowledges that he is not a public speaker and stands in front of audiences for enlightened self-interest. He is willing to speak if it can help promote FIRST and inspire others to innovate. Despite his modesty, he is known for his innovative work in technology, including water projects and medical devices.

Focus on Innovation and Collaboration:
Kamen emphasizes the importance of innovation and collaboration in driving progress. He believes that innovation thrives when people from diverse backgrounds work together. Kamen stresses the need for a collaborative approach to address complex global challenges.

Conclusion:
Kamen’s passion for science and technology is evident in his inventions, advocacy, and dedication to inspiring the next generation. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and innovation in solving global challenges. Kamen’s work through FIRST and his innovative technologies exemplify his commitment to advancing science and technology.

Dean Kamen’s Introduction:
Kamen emphasizes the importance of technology as a tool for positive change. He expresses his concern for the urgent need for change in the world. Kamen shares his personal connections to Chicago and Illinois Institute of Technology.

Technology and Medical Devices:
Kamen highlights his involvement in developing various technologies, including the diabetes pump. He discusses his work on stents and computer analysis for medical devices. Kamen mentions the success of the insulin pump, which evolved from a simple device to an indispensable life-support system.

The Prosthetic Arm:
Kamen speaks about the development of a prosthetic arm at the request of DARPA. He emphasizes the need to improve upon the traditional hook-on-a-stick design given to veterans. Kamen expresses disappointment that despite advancements in military technology, veterans were still given outdated prosthetics.

Dean Kamen’s Humorous Take on Technology:
Kamen shares his experiences with Stephen Colbert and his satirical take on technology. He highlights the importance of recognizing the humor in illogical statements and anti-intellectual attitudes. Kamen uses a shortened version of his Colbert appearance as a humorous way to introduce his presentation.

Conclusion:
Kamen briefly mentions the first insulin pump and other medical devices he has worked on. He acknowledges the importance of robotics and the challenges faced by students in creating complex robotic systems. Kamen ends his presentation with a call to continue innovating and improving technology for the benefit of humanity.

Prosthetic Arms:
Dean Kamen’s journey to develop sophisticated prosthetic arms began with a challenge to create a robotic arm capable of picking up and eating a grape or raisin without crushing it. The initial prototype, dubbed the “Luke arm,” demonstrated fine motor control and allowed a double amputee to perform basic tasks like eating cereal with milk using a spoon. Kamen’s latest arm design, in partnership with Toyota, aims to make mobility devices more accessible and affordable.

Water Purification Machine:
Kamen recognized that the world’s biggest health problem could be solved by providing clean water. He developed a water purification machine capable of converting contaminated water into water meeting U.S. pharmacopeia standards for water for injection. Partnering with Coca-Cola, Kamen deployed the machines in various countries, proving their effectiveness in producing clean water from diverse sources. Bill Gates expressed interest in collaborating to bring these machines to scale and address the global water crisis.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology):
Kamen founded FIRST, a non-profit organization promoting STEM education and robotics competitions among high school students. FIRST has grown exponentially since its inception, boasting a 55% compound annual growth rate over 26 years. Morgan Freeman, impressed by FIRST’s mission, created a video explaining the organization’s goals and impact.

FIRST’s Growth and Impact:
FIRST, a robotics competition founded by Dean Kamen, grew from humble beginnings in Manchester to hosting championships at prestigious venues like Disney, the Astrodome, and the 72,000-seat stadium in Georgia. The program reached 50,000 teams, 30% of which were made up of women and minorities, and had a significant impact on social development, as recognized by the Ford Foundation. Over 200 universities committed $50 million in scholarships for FIRST participants, and regional events were held in Chicago and other cities. FIRST became an international organization with teams from all over the world, including Africa, and had a volunteer network of 140,000 mentors and 3,700 corporate sponsors.

FIRST’s Mission:
FIRST aimed to inspire students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on robotics competitions. Kamen believed that teaching technology to all kids, regardless of background, could help foster global cooperation and address global challenges like climate change, food, water, and security.

International Expansion and Partnerships:
Kamen worked with former Israeli President Shimon Peres to establish FIRST in Israel, which hosted 1,200 teams and invited teams from Palestine and Jordan to participate. Peres envisioned FIRST as a tool to promote peace and understanding among different groups by teaching technology instead of focusing on historical differences.

The Power of Storytelling:
Kamen collaborated with filmmaker John Kamen to create a short video that would effectively convey the essence of FIRST to heads of state and dignitaries. The video featured a seven-year-old girl explaining the importance of FIRST and its impact on kids, emphasizing the joy and learning opportunities it provided.

The Importance of Cooperation and Communication:
Kamen stressed the value of cooperation and communication among people from diverse backgrounds, as exemplified by the gracious professionalism displayed by FIRST participants. He believed that by working together, people could achieve audacious goals and positively change the future of the country and the world.

Kamen’s Personal Journey:
Kamen’s childhood experiences, including his struggles with traditional education, shaped his perspective on learning and innovation. He emphasized the importance of hands-on experiences and practical problem-solving rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge. Kamen’s passion for technology and his desire to make a difference led him to pursue a career in invention and entrepreneurship.

Kamen’s Mother as a Necessity for Invention:
Kamen’s early inventions didn’t work, leading him to realize that necessity alone wasn’t enough for invention. For Kamen, his mother’s desire to see him succeed became the driving force behind his creativity and invention. He eventually made inventions that worked, earning honorary degrees and making his mother proud.

Parents’ Influence on Children’s Interests:
Kamen emphasizes the significant role parents play in shaping their children’s interests and aspirations. He highlights the importance of parents making a difference in their children’s lives.

Sports as a National Pastime vs. a National Obsession:
Kamen acknowledges his love for sports and their benefits for health and recreation. However, he cautions against making sports a national obsession at the expense of other important pursuits. He emphasizes that sports should be a reward for achievements in areas that create wealth and progress.

The Need for Celebrating Intelligence and Excellence:
Kamen criticizes the lack of appreciation for intelligence and excellence in thought and problem-solving in society. He believes that celebrating a culture of intelligence and excellence is crucial for inspiring young people, particularly women and minorities. Kamen stresses the importance of recognizing and celebrating the successes of individuals who make meaningful contributions to society.

FIRST’s Role in Building a Fan Base for Science and Technology:
Kamen acknowledges FIRST’s success in motivating participants in science and technology. He expresses his desire for FIRST to build a fan base for science and technology. Kamen believes that history often simplifies successful stories, making them appear effortless and instantaneous, when in reality, they are the result of years of perseverance and hard work.

Passion and Perseverance:
Dean Kamen emphasizes the significance of Winston Churchill’s quote about achieving success through unwavering enthusiasm despite repeated failures.

Sports as a Model:
Kamen aimed to replicate the success of sports by creating a competition with short, intense seasons, celebrations, and trophies, eliminating the emphasis on quizzes and tests.

Parental Involvement:
Kamen realized the importance of involving families in the program after observing the enthusiasm of younger siblings and mothers’ eagerness to support their children.

The Need for a “Little League”:
Recognizing the absence of a feeder system for FIRST, Kamen envisioned LEGO League as a starting point for younger children.

Collaboration with LEGO:
Kamen approached LEGO, the world’s largest creative engineering toy company, to collaborate on developing a simplified kit for younger participants.

Alumni and Dynasty Teams:
FIRST developed a strong alumni base and dynasty teams similar to traditional sports, fostering a sense of pride and continuity.

The Unique Human Advantage:
Kamen highlights the significance of engineering as a sport where humans excel due to their ability to solve abstract problems with tools and an understanding of science.

Navigating Failure and Success:
Kamen acknowledges the challenge of determining when to persist despite failures and when to discontinue projects, emphasizing the difficulty of knowing when to stop.

Failure as a Learning Opportunity in FIRST:
In FIRST, kids are allowed to fail, unlike in school where failure is considered bad. Failure is tolerated and accepted in FIRST, allowing kids to learn from their mistakes. Resources and time are limited initially, but kids learn to overcome these challenges.

Failure in Invention:
Trying to make a product 2% better with a roadmap is manageable, but creating something revolutionary involves many failed attempts. As long as lessons are learned and honesty is maintained, failure is acceptable.

Knowing When to Stop:
There is no clear answer to when one should stop pursuing a goal despite repeated failures. Sometimes, after years of struggling, a breakthrough happens, reinforcing stubbornness. Deciding when to stop is difficult, as giving up can be seen as a loss of vision and courage, while continuing may be seen as stubbornness.

The Role of Luck:
Luck plays a role in success, and even the best teams can lose. The need to play multiple games in sports highlights the importance of luck.

Conclusion:
The uncertainty of knowing when to stop pursuing a goal makes life interesting. Failure is a valuable learning opportunity in robotics and invention.

Motivation and Public Benefit:
Dean Kamen emphasizes the challenge of conveying the societal benefits of scientific research and engineering developments to the public. He notes that the focus often lies on immediate personal benefits rather than long-term societal impact.

Faraday’s Story and the Queen’s Question:
Kamen shares the anecdote of Michael Faraday’s demonstration of electromagnetism to the Queen and her inquiry about its practical use. Faraday’s response, comparing basic scientific research to the potential of a baby, highlights the unpredictable yet transformative nature of scientific discoveries.

Common Traits of Innovators:
Kamen identifies a key attribute of innovators: their ability to challenge conventional wisdom and persist in the face of obstacles. He contrasts this with the educational system, which often emphasizes rote learning and discourages risk-taking.

Innovators’ Mindset:
Kamen emphasizes the importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity and fostering a mindset that values experimentation and iteration. He stresses the need for innovators to be open to new ideas and willing to challenge the status quo.

Education:
Education should focus on synthesis (building things up) rather than solely analysis (breaking things down). Inventing involves frequent failures, and education should teach students how to learn from failures and move on.

Invention:
Successful inventors are willing to fail, admit failures, learn from them, and move on without blaming others or being stubborn. Inventing requires imagination and a willingness to pursue the impossible.

Entrepreneurial Spirit:
Lower barriers, faster cycle times, and cheaper access to information have reinvigorated the entrepreneurial spirit in America. Entrepreneurship should focus on creating technologies that eliminate jobs by increasing capacity and solving real problems, leading to real wealth creation.

Innovation and Technology in Solving Climate Change:
Innovation and technology can help address climate change through the development of new energy sources, carbon capture technologies, and more efficient ways to use energy. Policies that encourage innovation and investment in clean technologies are essential to combat climate change.

Technology and Climate Change:
Dean Kamen believes climate change is the biggest short-term issue, but it’s also the easiest to solve. We know the causes and have various solutions, such as wind, solar panels, LEDs, demand reduction, and supply increase. When the situation worsens, resources will be allocated to address the problem.

Healthcare Transformation:
Kamen anticipates a transformation in healthcare, shifting from treating diseases to curing and preventing them. He emphasizes the importance of regenerative medicine and low-cost cures rather than chronic treatments. Kamen draws a parallel to the invention of the iron lung and the subsequent discovery of the polio vaccine, highlighting the potential for dramatic breakthroughs.

Healthcare Costs and Technological Advancements:
Kamen criticizes the high cost of treating diseases compared to the relatively low cost of curing or preventing them. He believes technology will drive down healthcare costs, making it more affordable and accessible. Kamen points to historical examples of technological advancements that have reduced costs and increased efficiency in other industries.

Healthcare Marketplace and Consumer Behavior:
Kamen identifies two types of consumers in healthcare: those who are healthy and don’t want to pay for healthcare and those who are sick and want the best care regardless of cost. He emphasizes the need for a moral imperative to provide healthcare to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

Dialysis and End-Stage Renal Failure:
Kamen highlights the disparity in healthcare access, where some countries cannot afford dialysis for end-stage renal failure patients. He raises concerns about the ethical and societal implications of providing expensive treatments for conditions that cannot be cured or prevented.

Technology as the Solution and Moral Implications:
Kamen believes technology is the only answer to healthcare challenges, but it also raises moral, intellectual, and societal questions about who pays for what and how treatments are deployed. He emphasizes the need for innovative thinking and iterative applications to address these complex issues.

Inventions Kamen Wishes He Had Made:
Kamen expresses his desire to invent cures for two significant health conditions, which he prefers not to name, but believes will eventually be solved through iterative applications of existing knowledge.

A Time Machine for Invention:
Dean Kamen expresses his desire for a time machine to learn from great inventors like Archimedes and Galileo.

Inventing Inventors:
Kamen emphasizes the significance of cultivating young inventors to address global challenges.

FIRST’s Role in Fostering Invention:
He highlights the FIRST program’s role in nurturing future inventors.

The Impact of Young Inventors:
Kamen anticipates that young inventors will accelerate the pace of invention, helping to avert global catastrophes.

A Living Time Machine:
Kamen envisions his legacy as a living time machine through the inventions of future generations inspired by his work.

Gratitude and Closing:
Michelle Larson expresses appreciation for Dean Kamen’s presence and remarks. The meeting is adjourned, and attendees are encouraged to view robotic demonstrations before leaving.