Made @ The Tech The Tech Museum of Innovation | San Jose, CA
Fall 2015
Creative Collisions founded by the Swanson Family
Event explores new frontiers of tech
IMLS National Medal The Tech honored at White House
The Tech Awards
presented by Applied Materials
Celebrating the work of 10 new laureates
#MadeAtTheTech Fall 2015 | 1
The Essential Tech Letter from the President Who do you think you are? An important question, isn’t it? How people and institutions perceive themselves has a powerful effect on the difference they make in the world. So, what does The Tech think it is? What is our essential task? What business are we in? How are we distinctive? These questions are all answered in a document reviewed monthly by our Board of Directors and our staff. We’ve named it The Essential Tech. I’d like to share its essence with you. What is The Tech? The Tech is a community resource for innovation. We offer teachers, families, young people, businesses and community-based organizations our assets — exhibits, programs, spaces, tools and intellectual capital — to inspire and equip all in our community to succeed in a technology-driven age. What is The Tech’s essential task? The Tech’s essential task is to inspire the innovator in everyone. That’s our mission. We believe that one hallmark of humankind is the capacity to solve problems in innovative ways. Our job is to offer the challenges, support and resources people need to tap into their problem-solving power. What business is The Tech in? The Tech is in the hands-on learning business. We are definitely not in the “museum” business. We are in the business of helping people discover how they can use technology to solve big problems and create brighter futures for themselves, our community and our world. We do this — in our exhibits and programs — by giving them problems to solve. It’s a hands-on approach to learning, and it works. What sets us apart? The Tech is set apart by its focus on Design Challenge Learning. Our exhibits and programs offer challenges that are open-ended, require creativity, benefit from collaboration, often result in initial failure and reward persistence. We believe that when you must design your own answer to a difficult problem, and persist through failure until you get it right, you are on the path to becoming the problem-solving person the world needs you to be. In the pages that follow, you will see how we are striving to be who we are supposed to be, and do what we are supposed to do. We are The Tech, and this is our joy.
Tim Ritchie President and CEO
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Letter from the Chairman Special events foster fun and fellowship 6 Inside innovation at The Tech 8 Our newest exhibit 10 Creative Collisions 12 10 ways to spend a day at The Tech 14 The Tech by the numbers
16 The Tech takes home highest museum honor in United States 18 Cutting-edge resources for local educators 20 The Tech Academies 22 The Tech Challenge 26 The Tech Awards 28 Stanford, The Tech partner for course in global health
29 The importance of storytelling in education 30 Newest IMAX film: “Robots” 32 A heartfelt appreciation for Bob Grimm 34 The Tech’s Community Day 35 Opening in IMAX: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Made @ The Tech is produced twice a year for members, supporters and friends of The Tech Museum of Innovation. If you have questions about this publication, contact Amy Pizarro, Senior Director of Media + Community, at apizarro@thetech.org.
Contributors Lauren Cage Janette Ciborowski Chris DiGiorgio Michelle Duncan Danny Haeg Marika Krause Christina O’Guinn Tim Ritchie John Ryan Prinda Wanakule Allison Wilhelm
Leadership team Tim Ritchie President and CEO
201 S. Market Street San Jose, CA 95113 408-294-8324 thetech.org facebook.com/thetechmuseum twitter.com/thetechmuseum instagram.com/thetechmuseum youtube.com/thetechmuseum Editor Amy Pizarro Graphic designers Matthew Ivan Krista Thomas Copy editor Betsy Towner Levine
Photography Allison Berman Na’im Beyah Clarissa Buettner Jennifer Bullock Cassandra Corbin Don Feria The family of Bob Grimm Lauren Holditch Institute of Museum and Library Services Marika Krause Erin Lubin MacGillivray Freeman Films National Geographic Rebekah Nelson Katherine Ozawa Emily Ramos Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority Prinda Wanakule Allison Wilhelm
Harvard Sung Chief Financial Officer Bill Bailor Vice President, Operations Maria Pappas Vice President, Development Gretchen Walker Vice President, Education David Whitman Vice President, The Tech Awards Rachel Wilner Vice President, Media + Community Charles Pearson Director, Information Systems
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Letter from the Chairman
Board of Directors
The Tech Museum of Innovation is still quite young in many ways. When we outgrew The Garage 16 years ago and moved into what’s now a landmark building in downtown San Jose, we were just starting to stretch new muscles in our mission to inspire the innovator in everyone. This year at a ceremony at the White House in May, we were awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service — the highest honor a U.S. museum can achieve. It’s an acknowledgment of the work we have done to serve our community and fulfill our mission.
Michael R. Abbott Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
The Tech has always been a great experiment in how to deeply engage Silicon Valley in STEM education. That experiment will never end, but we have learned this: The one thing that truly inspires innovation is having a problem to solve. This is a seed planted from the early days of one of our signature programs, The Tech Challenge, in which we ask young people to solve a real-world problem every year. Now you see this strain in nearly everything we do.
Chris Boyd Kaiser Permanente
Our newest exhibits challenge visitors to think creatively about a problem — for example, in Cyber Detectives, presented by Palo Alto Networks, how to protect a company’s computer network from a criminal attack. Our education team also works tirelessly to develop programming that instills new skills and confidence in our visitors, teaching them to use technology and innovation to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. And we are also taking a greater role in helping Bay Area educators bring creative and engaging Design Challenge Learning into the classroom.
Hon. David D. Cortese Santa Clara County
The Tech is ready to emerge from its teenage phase and find its role in the world, benefiting humanity through innovation. I couldn’t be more proud of where we’ve been, or more excited for what’s to come. As you read this edition of Made @ The Tech, I hope you feel the same way.
Emmanuel Barbara Silicon Valley Education Foundation James Barrese PayPal Ann S. Bowers Past Board Chair Noyce Foundation
R. L. Smith McKeithen Enconcert, Inc. Jami Dover Nachtsheim Intel Corporation (retired) Omkaram Nalamasu Applied Materials Don Norling Volunteer Representative
Edward G. Cannizzaro Board Treasurer KPMG LLP
Daniel Perez OnCore Manufacturing Services
Gloria Chen Adobe
Frank P. Quattrone Past Board Chair Qatalyst Group
James C. Deichen SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Christopher S. DiGiorgio Board Chair Accenture (retired) Joseph W. Fabris Plus 3 Network Mauria Finley Raquel Gonzalez Bank of America William W. Heil, Jr. Gerald D. Held The Held Group
Joe Kava Google Randy Krenzin Wells Fargo Advisors
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Bill B. May NewsBalance LLC
Chuck Boynton SunPower Corporation
Dave House
Chris DiGiorgio Chairman, Board of Directors
Jonathan Martin Pure Storage
Dan’l Lewin Microsoft
Roger J. Quinlan Board Secretary SAP America, Inc. A. Peter Relan Crowdstar Tim Ritchie President and CEO The Tech Museum of Innovation Matthew A. Sapp Ernst & Young LLP Archana Sathaye Sathaye Family Foundation Judy C. Swanson The Swanson Foundation Daniel J. Warmenhoven Board Vice Chair NetApp Steve Young HGGC
Special events foster fun and fellowship 3D Print Jam February 2015 Thousands of people packed The Tech’s lower level for this one-of-a-kind daylong event, which gave guests a chance to design and print their own 3D object. Special guests included two Santa Clara University students who designed a device to recycle plastic water bottles into 3D printing filament; an engineer using 3D printing for aid work in disaster zones; an entrepreneur using bioprinting to help teachers in the classroom and a nonprofit that helps make prosthetics for kids around the world.
Epic Genetics Day February 2015 People dove deep into the world of genetics thanks to Stanford and UC Santa Cruz researchers, who shared their fascinating work with the human genome. Guests took a closer look at their own DNA and made a bracelet of genetic traits using beads that were 3D-printed in The Tech Studio. Dr. Elaine Ostrander from the National Human Genome Research Institute gave a talk about what her team is learning about human disease through canine DNA research. Did you know the canine genome could be the key to identifying diseases in humans such as cancer and some mental illnesses? Our guests that day do!
Maker Faire May 2015 The Tech put the problem-solving skills of the most creative makers in the world to the test at this year’s Maker Faire with our popular Hacker vs. Hacker challenge. People practiced their code-cracking and lock-picking skills, then faced off with a competitor. Each participant is locked into a transparent closet and must pick the locks to escape before his or her opponent. May the best hacker win!
Hack My Ride May 2015 The Tech teamed up with the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA) to kick off Hack My Ride 2.0. This hackathon contest invited people to imagine how transportation could work better in Silicon Valley and design an app that might improve it. Some outstanding ideas were churned up over the weekend, including an app that connects the user to people making similar trips and another that integrates all 26 Bay Area transportation agencies.
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Inside Innovation at The Tech Why problems might not be such a bad thing
The Tech is not your average museum. Touching things isn’t just allowed — it’s encouraged. But there’s more to the interactive experience than swiping screens or pushing buttons. Every activity at The Tech is designed to help guests discover their own potential to solve problems. “We want our visitors, kids and adults alike, to design solutions and become creative problemsolvers,” said Gretchen Walker, The Tech’s vice president of education.“We want them to build something, create something or solve something every time they are here.” The Tech’s education and exhibits teams worked together to research innovation itself, seeking common language on the process and determining “what it looks like” when a person designs a solution for a problem in an innovative way. 6 | Made @ The Tech
“Our ultimate goal is to have more people be creative problem-solvers, because that’s what so much of life is about — what work is about,” Walker said. “Both the challenges and opportunities that we face in this century require being able to dive in and become a creative problem solver.” This is also where the fun comes in. “It’s the creative energy in what you do that makes you love to do it,” Walker said. Exhibits and experiences at The Tech are designed to let visitors explore the process for themselves. In Social Robots, guests use input and output blocks to build robots featuring lights that turn on or arms that move. Visitors figure out what they want a robot to do, build it and test it to see if it will work. They also get to add personality to their creation with fun props and design challenges like “build a robot that can help people” or “build a robot that can take care of a pet.” In The Tech Studio, an array of programs help get creative juices flowing. A favorite offering is inviting visitors to use wind power to transport 3D-printed cupcakes. Recently a girl was testing her design for this challenge while her father peppered her with
suggestions. “You need to listen,” she told him. “I got this.” The budding engineer continued with her own idea and ended up with a successful vehicle. “It is natural for kids to just keep trying — to keep reiterating. Adults tend to question their design before even testing it,” said Prinda Wanakule, educational programs manager. “We encourage people to just give it a try and test their own creative answers. Failure is an important part of the process.” This summer, visitors designed smartphone apps on paper that address a real-world problem, then helped the app come to life on a tablet. One girl designed an app to help kids learn about healthy eating and exercise. Another child designed one to check the health of pets. A teacher invented an app to help kids learn literary devices with a quiz that asks users to identify whether a quote is by Shakespeare or a hip-hop artist. “Our goal isn’t just to be a fun place to visit,” said Tim Ritchie, The Tech’s president and CEO. “We want to have a real impact on the lives of our community members and help them live up to their full problem-solving potential.”
Coming soon: Innovations in Healthcare The Tech hands you the keys to innovation and the power to change the future of medicine in its next exhibit, Innovations in Health Care, presented by El Camino Hospital. Opening this winter, the exhibit invites you to explore advances in health care technology and become a part of the innovation process. This is the first exhibit at The Tech that explicitly details the innovation process and how it is used with technology to improve lives around the world. “The innovations featured were created by regular people who found their why,” said Michelle Maranowski, exhibit curator. “The amazing thing is anyone can do it. All it takes is a spark and some determination. You never know where the next great innovation will come from.” One of the innovations featured is the Embrace Warmer, developed by Stanford students looking to increase the survival rates of low-birth weight babies without access to modern medical equipment. The team spent months testing and retesting devices before developing one that has helped over 50,000 babies survive, at just 1% the cost of a traditional incubator. The Embrace Warmer team was honored as a Tech Awards laureate in 2012. “From this design that we took from a napkin, to an actual baby being stabilized by our device, is very, very rewarding,” said Linus Liang, co-creator of the Embrace Warmer. “I’ve always been fascinated by making my short time in this world as productive as possible and pushing life forward.” Embrace is just one part of Innovations in Health Care, where guests will be invited to: • Explore how a dog’s sense of smell might help detect cancer. • Learn about apps that help doctors remotely diagnose medical problems without expensive lab equipment. • Explore new ways to filter water in developing nations. • Contemplate how 3D printing may change health care by creating skin and organs.
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Our newest exhibit Step into the role of a cyber sleuth in Cyber Detectives — the first interactive exhibit in the United States that explores Internet privacy and online attacks — open now at The Tech. Guests will enter a training zone filled with games and challenges about passwords, encryption, phishing, malware, networks and code-cracking. Then they’ll test their new skills as a cyber security professional in a full-fledged game.
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A 3D-printed corpse, a ballerina wearing a headset that monitors brain waves and a device meant to transmit messages to other galaxies — there have been many unusual sights around The Tech this year. And it’s all thanks to Creative Collisions, a new evening series founded by the Swanson Family, that invites people to explore the intersection of two seemingly different topics. “We are thrilled to not only give people access to technology, but to encourage them to interact with it — and each other — in new ways,” said Danny Haeg, director of Creative Collisions. “We hope every person who comes to Creative Collisions has a unique experience and feels inspired to dream up something new.” Creative Collisions is made possible by the generous support of the Swanson Family, which has championed the series and its potential to make a difference in Silicon Valley culture. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Creative Collisions is ground zero for the next big startup,” said Tim Ritchie, president and CEO of The Tech. “When you bring people together to meet new people and explore new ideas, you never know what will happen. We are grateful to the Swanson family and our partners for bringing an idea with such potential to life.”
To buy tickets for the next event, visit thetech.org/creativecollisions Special thanks to the Koret Foundation
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Ballet + Wearables Creative Collisions launched in May with an evening of ballet and wearable technology. Performers from Silicon Valley Ballet prompted guests to consider what it means to be a performing arts organization in the innovation capital of the world and to think of ways technology can be incorporated into performance.
Space + Art In June, attendees drew messages to send into space and created constellations by completing electrical circuits. Speakers discussed the importance of arts and creativity in science and engineering; how NASA uses art and graphics to visualize space exploration; and how humans might be able to communicate with extraterrestrial life via symbols and pictures.
3D Printing + The Body A 3D-printed corpse fascinated guests at July’s event, which featured companies working on the cutting edge of this rapidly changing technology. Scott Summit of 3D Systems spoke about how 3D printing is being used to help people, such as unusually beautiful scoliosis braces that women — who make up the vast majority of scoliosis patients — are more likely to wear. Or 3D-printed casts that can take a spin in the dishwasher, helping the wearer stay clean and comfortable.
Virtual Reality + Humanity Visitors dove deep into the world of VR in August with Samsung’s Vice President of Research Pranav Mistry, who talked about the importance of understanding human behavior when developing new technology. Guests tried Samsung’s Gear VR and learned how Stanford and Santa Clara University are using virtual reality to treat phobias. AltSpaceVR also showed off how it’s using VR to bring people together.
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10 Ways to Spend a Day at
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Take a virtual dive with humpback whales
Make an app that makes a difference
Build a robot with personality
Take a dive into the deep blue sea without the hassle of a wetsuit at our Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater, featuring more than 9,000 square feet of wraparound image. Follow families of humpback whales on an epic journey captured with IMAX cameras for the first time. thetech.org/imax
An app that saves endangered monkeys, helps kids eat healthier or teaches literacy with Shakespeare and hip-hop artists? Yes, please! These are all ideas dreamed up in our Apps for Social Change program, now available in The Tech Studio. Tackle some of the world’s biggest problems by putting your ideas on paper, then transform them into an app on a digital tablet.
You won’t find any boring robots around here! The Tech is the only place you can design, build and program a real robot using sensors, controllers and actuators. Accessories like robes, wigs, Groucho glasses and medical gear add another challenge: What to name your funny-looking magician/ doctor robot?
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Put your imagination on display
Take a breather with a cool view
Learn something new about yourself and your friends
Harness the power of the wind to deliver 3D-printed cupcakes, design an “arm” that can pick up items with different shapes and textures, or make your own animated movie. The world is your oyster in The Tech Studio! Activities change every week, but you’re sure to find something to stretch your imagination.
It’s a staff favorite for taking a break, but did you know visitors are also welcome to enjoy our balcony overlooking Plaza de Cesar Chavez?
Check out a Sensor Kit at Body Metrics, presented by Kaiser Permanente, and explore! The kit gives you biometric data about your own body and mind as you play at the museum and then lets you compare your stats with friends and other museum-goers. At what point were you most calm? What exhibit made you happiest?
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Come all ye playful!
The Tech
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Solve a cyber mystery like a pro
Travel the world without leaving The Tech
Our newest exhibit, Cyber Detectives, presented by Palo Alto Networks, puts you in the role of online sleuth. Enter our training zone and learn how to crack codes, create strong passwords and compete to build a secure network. Then go on a mission to prevent crime like a cyber security pro.
Explore every corner of the globe with Google’s Liquid Galaxy, located on the upper level. This family got a taste of France. Oui approve!
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Up your geek chic factor
Dance to your own beat
The Tech Store is loaded with fun ways to show off your geek street cred or even continue the learning at home with books and kits featuring cool science experiments.
You don’t even need to play an instrument to make your own music with Reactable! Create a blend of global music using beats, rhythms and harmonies from around the world. Just move the color-coded cubes on this interactive table. Oh, and dance. You should totally dance.
Make the most of this holiday season and spend some family time at The Tech! Take advantage of the Holiday Hat Trick: $25 includes admission to The Tech, Downtown Ice and the San Jose Museum of Art. Purchase at any of the three locations. Fall 2015 | 13
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Since 1998
Since 1998
Since 1998
The Tech by the numbers More than 8 million visitors have been to The Tech since opening day. “The Tech literally transformed my life.” – DJ Patil, Chief Data Scientist, United States
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218,785 students have taken part in hands-on science labs. “The Tech has the STEM expertise that we don’t. We may not have our own fab labs, science labs and other STEM resources, but we have The Tech.” – Maria Arias Evans, Principal, Washington Elementary School
1.79 million students have visited The Tech on field trips. “The priority that The Tech places on engaging the underserved is unmatched by any other science center in Northern California.” – U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren
50 professional development workshops with more than 800 educators over 18 months. “The Tech’s training helped teachers show their students how to work collaboratively on a real-life, authentic problem. This led to problem solving and it led to creative thinking. The training lends itself beautifully to helping teachers fulfill the requirements of the Common Core.” – Linda Barker, Principal, Kennedy Elementary School
65 innovation events in The Tech Studio over six months. “The Tech was an amazing venue for the community to get together and work on innovative solutions. When they hosted VTA’s first hackathon, Hack My Ride, community organizations like ours were able to bring new ideas to the table and inspire more civic engagement.” – Kalen Gallagher, Co-Founder, Code for San Jose
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The Tech Challenge presented by EMC This signature program of The Tech introduces and reinforces the engineering design process with a hands-on project aimed at solving a real-world problem. Since 1987
17,500 girls and boys have participated. “I learned how to use more power tools and how fun science can be. I found out I want to be a scientist when I grow up.” – 2014 Tech Challenge participant
Since 2011
43% of participants have been girls. “You can fail at a moment, you can succeed at a moment. You are just completely limitless in where your innovation can go.” – Francesca LeBaron, member of an all-girl Tech Challenge team (2004).
Since 2011
36% of participants have come from low-income schools. “Our experience shows that The Tech knows how to make a measurable difference in the lives of our children, especially those on the less-fortunate side of the economic and digital divide.” – John Porter, Superintendent, Franklin-McKinley School District, East San Jose
The Tech Awards presented by Applied Materials This signature program of The Tech honors innovators from around the world who are using technology to solve humanity’s most pressing problems.
“If not for The Tech Awards, we would not have gotten our company off the ground to be able to bring clean solar energy to the 20,000 off-grid people we have impacted to date.” – 2012 Laureate Lesley Marincola, Founder and CEO, Angaza
“If not for the Tech Awards, 1,300 families in China would not be living in earthquake-resistant houses.” – 2008 Laureate Elizabeth Hausler Strand, Founder and CEO, Build Change
Since 2008
26 million users of Khan Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free education to “anyone, anywhere” with online video microlectures.
Since 2001
$4.85 million in prizes has been awarded.
Since 2001
287 laureates have been honored.
“It was the day I got the notification that I would be a laureate that I said, ‘This is a message.’… It was at The Tech Awards that I felt like this effort was being recognized.” – 2009 Laureate Sal Khan, Khan Academy Fall 2015 | 15
The Tech takes home highest museum honor
This spring The Tech brought home the highest honor a United States museum can achieve.
35,000 museums in the United States. Five libraries were also honored.
Tim Ritchie, The Tech’s president and CEO, led a delegation from The Tech to the White House in May to accept the National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. First Lady Michelle Obama presented the award to just five of more than
“With your innovative programming, technological savvy and enthusiastic engagement with communities, you all are truly setting the standard for museums and libraries all across this country,� Obama told recipients.
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Michelle Obama lauded The Tech’s innovative programs and community outreach.
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, left, chats with Tim Ritchie, president and CEO of The Tech.
Honorees were asked to bring a guest who exemplifies the community impact of the organization, and The Tech selected Maria Evans, principal of Washington Elementary School. At The Tech, hundreds of Washington students have access to hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education through field trips, labs and weekend bilingual family programming. Washington teachers also trained in new Design Challenge Learning techniques as part of the newly launched Tech Academies of Innovation (see page 18).
congratulated The Tech on its accomplishments and shed light on its important work in Silicon Valley. “People come from all over the world to be part of Silicon Valley,” Lofgren said. “Sometimes what we fail to do is what you’re changing — to make sure that the people who are lucky enough to already be here, but may not have a silver spoon in their mouth, have an opportunity to grow a big future for the country and the world by becoming technology experts themselves.”
“Our relationship with The Tech has sparked our children’s desire to learn,” Evans said. “Happy children are eager learners, and our children come back from field trips excited about science. Many consider a career in STEM a strong possibility.” To celebrate at home, in June The Tech opened its doors free of charge for Community Day, welcoming thousands of visitors. Many gained new skills to keep themselves safe online in Cyber Detectives, presented by Palo Alto Networks, or explored their body’s reaction to its surroundings with Body Metrics, presented by Kaiser Permanente. Some also prototyped a new genetics exhibit and brainstormed their own app to solve a social justice question. U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren, who nominated The Tech for the medal and served on The Tech’s board in its early days, also spoke to the crowd. She
Google hosted a party for The Tech in Washington, D.C., where guests discussed ways to give more underserved communities access to STEM careers. “We have to do more than just open our doors every day,” Ritchie said. “We’re building on the momentum of this award to grow partnerships and inspire as many people as possible to innovate. “We’re already an excellent place to learn and challenge yourself to be a real problem-solver. Our next big step is amplifying this impact with educators, businesses, entrepreneurs, fellow nonprofits, elected leaders and beyond.” The medal will be displayed in the lobby of The Tech. As part of the award, The Tech received a $5,000 grant and a visit from StoryCorps, a project whose mission is to honor and celebrate the lives and stories of everyday Americans. More than a dozen stories about The Tech will be preserved in the National Archive. Fall 2015 | 17
Cutting-edge resources for local educators Design Challenge Learning Institute offers top-notch STEM workshops and professional development
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The Tech has long been a resource for local educators, offering students hands-on exhibits and activities, IMAX educational films and engaging lab programs. Now we’re proud to establish ourselves as the regional STEM resource for K-12 educators, afterschool providers and libraries with the opening of the Design Challenge Learning Institute, a space dedicated to high-quality educator professional development. In the fall of 2014, our team began the seven-month process of redesigning the space, formerly used by San Jose Jazz, into one accommodating various types of learning environments. Located at 145 W. San Carlos St., DCLI’s 1,200 square feet play to an open, flexible floor plan, ready to recreate any classroom, professional development, makerspace or hackathon environment you can imagine. Today’s educators face serious pressures to equip students with 21st-century skills, introduce design challenges in the classroom, and incorporate Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. More and more we are becoming aware of the need to provide educators with supplementary education and resources through professional development on these fronts. This is where the DCLI comes in. We believe educators deserve comprehensive education and resources on classroom technology connecting Common Core and NGSS, as well as guidance on rethinking the classroom, instruction styles, effective engagement of students in a blended environment, project-based curriculum and coding/computer literacy.
offer Design Thinking Bootcamp. The DCLI hosts a number of partner programs from organizations that are already familiar to many educators: CUE, Gooru, Resource Area for Teachers (RAFT) and Benesse, with more exciting partnerships to come. In April, we kicked off Design Thinking Bootcamp, a new method for educators to learn to facilitate activities: running an open-ended design challenge with our museum guests on the museum floor. It was a hit! Participants gained confidence in running project-based learning, a skill many felt they lacked, and were able to find ways in their current curriculum to incorporate design-based learning. Since then, Bootcamp participants have incorporated their experience into the classroom and watched their students become more engaged. All these efforts are designed to tackle our community’s most pressing educational challenges. The DCLI will make STEM learning more accessible to educators and low-income students. It will increase STEM interest and pursuit among girls so the developing technologies that shape our society will be more inclusive. It will help educators leverage effective educational technologies. And it will provide them with essential skills for meeting the requirements of Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.
Our goal is simple: Give educators the tools, training and confidence to educate and prepare students for success in a quickly changing, techfocused society. DCLI events and offerings are built around design challenges, project-based learning, ed tech, coding and engineering. DCLI hosts The Tech Academies of Innovation, which provides three-year partnerships with school educators and after-school providers to deepen student engagement in design challenge and hands-on learning. We’ve also partnered with the Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College to Fall 2015 | 19
Participant Name Engineering Education Leader
The Tech Academies
The Tech Academies of Innovation A program of The Tech
Helping local educators build model engineering programs
Participant School/AS Organization Participant email address
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When a local superintendent approached The Tech in 2012 with an idea for STEM-focused schools, we approached the challenge like we would any other: We brainstormed. We tinkered. We tested. We iterated. And gradually we developed a model that today is a reality, The Tech Academies of Innovation.
Even the kids themselves sense — and embrace — this shift in learning.
That visionary was Dr. John Porter of the FranklinMcKinley School District, and thanks to him The Tech is now helping eight schools develop model STEM programs for underserved youth. As part of a Tech Academy, each team of teachers and afterschool providers for Grades 4-8 gain resources to strengthen their own STEM instruction as well as guidance on supporting other educators. Participants learn engineering skills and processes that are requirements of the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards, and the efforts are inspiring future innovators from populations not traditionally represented in STEM fields.
And, of course, they’re learning one of life’s most important lessons.
It’s not always easy for teachers to embrace engineering, particularly for those who have previously taught little or no science. “We always hear that engineering is more male-dominated,” said one sixth-grade teacher. “In the beginning we were all a little intimidated and thinking that engineering is crazy rocket science.” Yet these teachers jumped in with the enthusiasm and perseverance of any innovator.
“I’m learning how to cooperate with other people, like other people I don’t normally hang out with and I don’t really know,” said one sixth-grader.
“They learned that failure is OK,” a teacher said. “We learn from failure. If we knew everything, we wouldn’t have to be at school. You’re going to make mistakes and I think that’s just a great life lesson for the kids.”
2015-2016 Tech Academies of Innovation • Dahl Elementary School with Catholic Charities, Franklin-McKinley School District • Escuela Popular Charter School with Boys and Girls Club Alum Rock, Alum Rock Union • Lairon College Preparatory Academy with Catholic Charities, Franklin-McKinley School District • Meadows Elementary with Catholic Charities, Franklin-McKinley School District
Over the course of a year, The Tech engaged these educators as students in cross-curricular, progressively challenging engineering design lessons. Educators then brought the lessons to their students and returned with best practices and questions. Their confidence grew.
• Monroe Middle School with The Crew, Campbell Union School District
“I’ve learned that engineering is just building,” said another sixth-grade teacher. “It’s not scary and intimidating. We all do it. We all build stuff. We all make stuff. We all create.”
• Washington Elementary with Catholic Charities, San Jose Unified School District
Their excitement has been bolstered by the impact they are having on their students. “I noticed wide eyes and smiles and excitement at trying something new. I noticed a lot of students who don’t normally stand out, standing out — sharing their ideas and getting into it,” a teacher said.
• Ocala Middle School with City Year, Alum Rock Union School District • P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy with YMCA, Morgan Hill Unified School District
Applications for 2016-2017 Tech Academies are open now: thetech.org/techacademies
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The Tech Challenge
The Tech Challenge, presented by EMC, is much more than just a program. It is an extraordinary community of young engineers who, year in and year out, create amazing solutions to problems that affect our world. Each year, participants and advisers become immersed in the engineering design process as they collaborate on a hands-on project that tackles a realworld problem. Most teams work for months on their designs, which are showcased at a final event in April. These teams, made up of girls and boys in Grades 4-12, come from some of the neediest corners of our community, and many build solutions with the simplest of materials. A surge in participant numbers made for a thrilling 2015 challenge. This year’s theme was Building Excitement: Seismic Engineering in Action. The most rewarding part of our work is seeing students work 22 | Made @ The Tech
so hard to perfect their designs. In tackling the topic of earthquake-safe buildings, students faced many challenges, not the least of which was destructive testing. In other words, testing their design often led to failure as teams worked to understand structural performance or material behavior under different loads. We had many teams come to test trials only to discover they needed to do a complete redesign — but what a joy to watch them persevere in the face of failure! This year we also launched several new initiatives and partnerships to expand support for teams and educators. We hosted new journaling workshops; partnered with the San Jose Public Library and Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) to create a Tech Challenge Library Kit; launched a video contest sponsored by ARM; and awarded the first Bob Grimm Award to an outstanding educator.
The 2015 challenge by the numbers The Tech Challenge is a yearlong program where teams of students tackle a real-world problem using science and engineering skills. 29%
28% Increase in number of participants from low-income communities
Increase in number of participants
63
Sponsors
38.5%
394
650
Judges
Advisers
i
2,485
784
Participants at test trials
Attendees at the ďŹ rst info clinic
706
Volunteers
66 Awards given
Increase in number of girls
6,000+ Attendees
60 Library kits distributed in Santa Clara County Fall 2015 | 23
The 2015 challenge in pictures
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presents
2016
TAKING T AKING FLIGHT The 2016 challenge: Build a glider to deliver supplies to a remote location
Who: Students in Grades 4-12 What: A team engineering design challenge Why: To develop creative solutions to a real-world problem
thetechchallenge @techchallengesv thetechchallenge Contact us 1-408-795-6133 challenge@thetech.org
When: Saturday, April 23 (Grades 4-6) and Sunday, April 24 (Grades 9-12 and 7-8) Register: thetech.org/thetechchallenge Fall 2015 | 25
The Tech Awards
Since its inception in 2001, The Tech Awards — a signature program of The Tech Museum of Innovation — has named 287 laureates who are using technology to benefit humanity.
The Tech Awards 15th Annual Gala
Presented by Applied Materials Thursday, Nov. 12 San Jose McEnery Convention Center
thetech.org/thetechawards
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The Tech Museum of Innovation proudly introduces the honorees of The Tech Awards 2015 James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award Sponsored by Applied Materials
Philanthropic power couple John and Tashia Morgridge will be honored with the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, which honors individuals whose broad vision and leadership address the world’s most challenging problems. The Morgridges have dedicated their lives to improving education around the world.
Laureate Impact Award Sponsored by PayPal
Embrace has been named the second recipient of the Laureate Impact Award, which honors past laureates since they were first recognized by The Tech Awards. Embrace makes a low-cost baby warmer used by more than 150,000 premature babies worldwide.
2015 Laureates Intel Environment Award DayOne Response: Offers a lightweight, backpacksized emergency water purifier system that has provided 7 million liters of clean water to global disaster victims. WCS China Wildlife Guardian App: Fights illicit wildlife smuggling via an app for law enforcement officers to quickly identify the legal status of commonly traded species.
Microsoft Education Award BeeLine Reader: Improves reading fluency and efficiency with a digital tool that guides the eye for online reading. OPENPediatrics: Provides free, online medical education content to pediatric health care providers and is used by more than 800 hospitals worldwide.
Katherine M. Swanson Young Innovator Award
Sobrato Organization Economic Development Award OneDollarGlasses: Offers a simple manual machine for opticians in low-income countries to make highquality eyeglasses using less than $1 in materials per pair. what3words: Is developing a global addressing system for the 75% of the world’s population without a geographic mailing address, so that all people can receive aid and deliveries.
Sutter Health Award Nexleaf Analytics: Produces ColdTrace, a remote, cell-phone based temperature monitoring system for vaccine refrigerators to protect the integrity of the inoculants. PrePex: CircMedTech Ltd. produces PrePex, a nonsurgical circumcision device used in 12 countries across sub-Saharan Africa to help reduce HIV infection rates.
Lumkani: Produces an inexpensive, networked fire detector for use in South Africa’s urban slums, where blazes are a common and devastating occurrence. miraclefeet: Offers a comfortable $20 brace to treat clubfoot in children in developing countries.
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Stanford, The Tech partner for course in global health When learning about technology and innovation, it’s important to study pitfalls as well as success stories. Thanks to a new partnership between Stanford University and The Tech Awards, presented by Applied Materials, college students in Silicon Valley can examine the whole picture. A new class at Stanford, “Designing Researchbased Interventions to Solve Global Health Problems,” sets aside theoretical lessons and allows undergraduate and graduate students to tackle real-life social entrepreneurship. They learn how to develop and scale ventures while navigating difficulties associated with cross-contamination of medical supplies, implementing programs on the ground and recruiting the people to carry out the mission. Since 2001, The Tech Awards has honored people using technology to solve the world’s biggest challenges. It is fitting that 2012 laureate Dr. Piya Sorcar led the course. “The collaboration with The Tech Awards provided our students with insight into leading-edge technology in the social space,” said Sorcar, founder and CEO of TeachAIDS. “Many of the students are budding social entrepreneurs, so exposure to the latest technologies — and the way these technologies are evaluated for grants and awards — will serve them well.”
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The class’ final project took place at The Tech, with a simulation of the rigorous evaluation process used by The Tech Awards. Using actual materials submitted by Tech Awards applicants, students debated whether the innovation had done enough to address the stated problem and pinpointed the challenges of rolling out a solution in the developing world. Next, a panel of education and health experts rated students on their research, making sure they accounted for factors like dealing with local governments and managing technology in a foreign country. Students also examined case studies of companies that have successfully scaled their ventures, as well as those that failed. Entrepreneurs working overseas visited as guest speakers, giving students direct access to people developing innovative solutions. Students said the class helped them deeply understand global health challenges and the real constraints that accompany them, going far beyond just a research project. “It pushed us to reach beyond the current research that is available,” said freshman Shaden Alsheik. “No other class at Stanford has done that.”
The importance of storytelling in education From designing roller coasters to building apps, visitors to The Tech are challenged to test new technologies, design creative solutions to reallife problems, and follow the engineering design method of iteration and reiteration.
the world. These stories prompt guests to create a prototype app to help these kids and thus consider how technology can benefit humanity. Through these stories, visitors begin to realize how they can change the world using STEM.
It may sound like serious work, but at The Tech, we’re all about hands-on discovery and play. To create a fun and playful environment, exhibits and programs have incorporated storytelling as a major part of the museum experience.
In addition to being great fun, storytelling develops confidence and ease in learning. When kids walk onto the floor, they exhibit a wide range of emotions. The excited ones jump into the first exhibit or activity they see, often without knowing their context. Some kids are more shy and reserved, perhaps even nervous, and do not immediately want to participate.
In some areas, the guest becomes part of the story, such as in our new exhibit Cyber Detectives, presented by Palo Alto Networks, where guests get to play the role of a cyber security investigator. In Body Metrics, presented by Kaiser Permanente, guests wear sensor kits that records their heart rate, muscle tension and social behavior, making the story all about them. Guests then have the opportunity to share their “story” using the interactive Data Pool table. Our programs use whimsical storytelling to turn basic STEM lessons into engineering adventures, such as learning about balance and air propulsion by helping a whale migrate across a zipline, or exploring mechanics by creating a grabber to catch a hot gingerbread man on the move. Apps for Social Change, the new daily Tech Studio program inspired by The Tech Awards, includes stories of kids facing challenges locally and around
But no matter how the kids were feeling when they first walk into The Tech, when a facilitator asks if they’d like to make a wind-powered cupcake delivery vehicle or a social robot that helps hospital patients, their eyes light up. They listen intently to the facilitator’s explanation, then get right to work designing their devices. This immersion allows them to forget their worries that they might make something “wrong,” and gives them the freedom to play, test and retest their ideas. “Storytelling is an integral part of getting visitors engaged in the innovation design process,” said Prinda Wanakule, Educational Programs Manager. “Our educators need to create a safe space where visitors are not afraid to take risks, learn from failure, and persevere. Starting with a captivating story is a great way to do that!”
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World’s most radical robots dazzle in newest IMAX film Since 1999, when “Mysteries of Egypt” swept audiences down the lush Nile River and over the Valley of the Kings, The Tech has enjoyed a rich and rewarding partnership with the filmmakers at National Geographic.
Come meet RoboThespian (voiced by “Shaun of the Dead” star Simon Pegg), who will take you on a tour of robotics labs around the world and introduce you to his pals CHIMP, ATLAS, PR-2, Herb the Butler, iCub and others.
This fall we continue our proud history with National Geographic with the opening of “Robots” at the Hackworth IMAX® Dome Theater.
The challenges robotics scientists, designers and programmers tackle in these efforts are astonishing. How do you program a robot to move its fingers and thumb like a human, without 34 muscles and 80 billion neurons? How do you build a robot that can do anything we can do without the benefit of a human brain? “Robots” answers these questions and more as it showcases the latest developments, successes and failures.
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Several of the film’s robot stars have been special guests at The Tech and will return to support their film throughout the year, so keep an eye on the museum calendar. We also look forward to “Robots” serving as a backdrop to The Tech’s relationships with STEM-focused groups such as Girl Scouts and 4-H Club, as well as local robotics teams. Chances are, “Robots” will become yet another National Geographic fan favorite at The Tech. IMAX fans probably remember being wowed by “The Human Body,” “Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West” and “Forces of Nature.” The latter two films remain in our permanent library and are those most requested by teachers bringing their students to The Tech for field trips. Our current National Geographic offerings continue to show us what we can’t always see in the world around us. What really happens when
a drop of water hits a body of water? What is that microscopic thing living on your eyelash? How do mosquitoes know where to bite? All those questions and more are answered in “Mysteries of the Unseen World.” Another offering, “Jerusalem,” takes you on a journey of discovery both historic and religious. Taking great care to balance the narrative of three major world religions through the stories of three teenage girls, this breathtakingly beautiful film leaves audiences awed and inspired. The team at the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater looks forward to sharing all these adventures — especially the future challenges and real-world needs for robots — in a way only the giant screen can do!
Tickets: thetech.org/imax
THEY'RE COMING...
ASIMO
HRP2
CHIMP
ROBONAUT 2
ROBOTHESPIAN
ROLLIN JUSTIN
ARE YOU READY?
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS
National Geographic P r e s e n t s
PRESENTED BY
PRESENTED BY
PRESENTED BY
HERB
NAO
ATLAS
A COSMIC PICTURE / ARCANE PICTURES FILM IN ASSOCIATION WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC “JERUSALEM” NARRATED BY BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH ORIGINAL MUSIC MICHAEL BROOK EDITORS JEAN-MARIE DROT BOB EISENHARDT, ACE DOUG O’CONNOR DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY REED SMOOT, ASC SOUND RECORDIST THIERRY MORLAAS-LURBE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS JAKE EBERTS DOMINIC CUNNINGHAM-REID PRODUCERS TARAN DAVIES GEORGE DUFFIELD DANIEL FERGUSON WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY DANIEL FERGUSON
NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC STUDIOS Presents “ROBOTS” A DAY’S END PICTURES PRODUCTION A FILM BY MIKE SLEE
Narrated by Simon Pegg
Scan to see the teaser trailer.
Sound Design by BRIAN EIMER Music by MARK KORVEN Edited by HARRY MILLER I I, A.C.E , JIM RUXIN, A.C.E Director of Photography SEAN MACLEOD PHILLIPS, A.S.C Written by RICHARD PANEK MIKE SLEE JINI DURR Executive Producers BROOKE RUNNETTE LISA TRUITT Produced by JINI DURR Directed by MIKE SLEE
WWW.JERUSALEMTHEMOVIE.COM FILMED IN 3D AND 2D FOR IMAX , GIANT SCREEN AND DIGITAL CINEMAS ®
Promotional Partners
SCAN TO LEARN MORE.
robotsfilm.com
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Heartfelt appreciation for Bob Grimm Board member’s legacy includes The Tech Challenge, IMAX theater and Valentine’s Day flowers
The Tech Museum of Innovation might not be where it is — and certainly wouldn’t be what it is — without the hard work and humble voice of Bob Grimm. A longtime board member and one of the greatest influences on the organization’s past, present and future, Grimm died in March at age 88 while on a trip in Tanzania. The Tech was honored to host his memorial service in May. Tim Ritchie, The Tech’s president and CEO, calls Grimm “the heart of The Tech.” Grimm’s time with the organization dates almost to its founding days. The four people who began the effort to create a museum in the late 1970s were legends: Bob Noyce, Gordon Moore, Bill Hewlett, and David Packard. Hewlett declined a position on the board and instead suggested Bob Grimm. Very few people had heard that name outside of HP, but he was highly regarded inside the company as the head of research and development.
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Grimm didn’t take The Tech’s offer lightly. He went around the country visiting science centers to evaluate how involved his assignment would be, then came back and accepted the position. And that’s the way he approached his role for the next 35 years: with total commitment and boundless energy. The Tech isn’t the only public institution that benefited from that spirit. The many other groups he served include: • The city of Los Altos, where he was mayor and a city council member • The United Way, for whom he was head of the California chapter • Downtown College Prep in San Jose, where he was a board member • Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) At The Tech, his main passion and greatest achievement was The Tech Challenge, which today includes more than 2,000 students each year.
Tim Ritchie, The Tech’s president and CEO, calls Grimm “the heart of The Tech.” Grimm helped lead the creation of the event in 1988, and for years his house served as the lab. Brainstorming ideas happened all over Bob’s kitchen, den and living room. Creating and testing all of the prototypes happened there, too — which came in handy more than a few times. “You’d say, ‘Oh, I wish I had this tool,’ and Bob would go in his garage and pull it out,” said Abby Longcor, Tech Challenge director. “Or he’d say ‘You know what you need is a spring clamp,’ and he would go and get a spring clamp.” In tribute, The Tech Challenge created the Bob Grimm Award for an extraordinary educator. The inaugural winner was Karen Hansen of the International School of Monterey. One of Grimm’s other long-ago tasks at The Tech dealt with researching how to create the best giantscreen theater. He was the driving force behind what became the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater. He immersed himself so deeply in the project, and for so long after it was completed, that he became the most knowledgeable volunteer in the largeformat theater industry.
Through all of his efforts, everyone remembers his grace, manners and small generosities. Every Valentine’s Day, he gave carnations to all the women who work at The Tech. Visitors at the Park Avenue entrance feel his presence as they stand mesmerized by the ball machine he donated. The list of good deeds for which he insisted on not being credited is longer than the list of good deeds for which he is. But that doesn’t mean he was a softie. What Ritchie will miss most are the arguments. Yes, the arguments. “He and I disagreed a lot,” Ritchie said. “At one point I said, ‘Bob, I hope you don’t mind that we disagree so much.’ He looked at me and said, ‘Well, if we didn’t disagree, what would we talk about?’ “People loved him, but he could be kind of crusty, and he wasn’t overly dramatic and he wasn’t a backslapper. But people loved him. Why? Because you could sense that he loved you.”
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Science, smiles and sunshine at The Tech’s Community Day We give the credit for our National Medal win where it’s due — to you! The Tech opened its doors for free on a sunny Sunday in June to thank the community for its support over the years. We were thrilled to welcome special guest Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who greeted our visitors with a talk about The Tech’s role as a community resource. A big thanks to everyone who came out to play, learn and, most importantly, innovate!
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Tickets on sale now: tickets.thetech.org
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The Tech 201 South Market Street San Jose, CA 95113 1-408-294-8324 thetech.org