Dean Kamen Helps Save America’s Youth With Science

Popular Mechanics recently interviewed Segway creator Dean Kamen. He didn’t talk much about his many inventions, but rather focused on his nonprofit organization, FIRST. The goal of FIRST is to get kids excited about science and technology by allowing them take part in outrageous hands-on experiments. Stuff like building 120 lb robots who battle each other, or racing 40 inch balls around a track. Kamen hopes to activate children’s inborn love of learning with exciting projects that will inspire them to continue on their own. And the competition is fierce. He says “We’re not competing with science fairs, we’re competing with Britney Spears and Shaquille O’Neal” for the attention of teenagers.

Kamen talks about why FIRST and education is important:

What do you think is the most important science and technology issue to be addressed by the next president? What’s the biggest issue he should take on?

Is it energy? Genomics? Is it bird flu? Is it the polar caps—are they really melting? Is it terrorism? You pick the crisis du jour: The answer to all these issues is going to be an educated, competent global society. This country ought to lead the world, for lots of reasons. And we ought to help the rest of the world get educated, because if they are educated, their impact on the environment is actually way less. If they are educated, they’ll have better ideas than killing each other or killing you and me.

Popular Mechanics: “Dean Kamen Q&A: Robots Can Save America from Britney Spears”

[via Boing Boing]