Made @ The Tech The Tech Museum of Innovation | San Jose, CA
Spring 2015
Annual Report 2014
Donors bring our mission to life.
From Safe Tech to Biotech
The exhibits team is hard at work.
Outsize Thrills & Chills
New IMAX adventures await you!
#madeatthetech Spring 2015 | 1
To Be of Use Letter from the President In 2014, the question that energized The Tech was this: How can we be most useful to our community? To expand this question, we asked: How can we develop our spaces and programs in ways that are genuinely useful to teachers, families, and Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem? Our answer was to create new physical spaces, exhibits, and programs that our community members now use to take on the challenges — and take up the opportunities — most relevant to them. The transformation of The Tech’s lower level is the most visible manifestation of this commitment. Our multipurpose, newly expanded Tech Studio is often used for startup weekends, hack-a-thons, product demonstrations, ed-tech seminars, and the like. It is also used by our education team for engineering challenges, workshops, and labs. Those uses will accelerate as word gets out that The Tech has the spaces and tools Silicon Valley needs to add momentum to its innovation ecosystem. Last year we also took steps to be more relevant to educators. The Tech Challenge program has increasingly become a resource for teachers as they adapt their lessons to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. We launched The Tech Academies of Innovation program to help educators better understand how to use engineering challenges to engage students more deeply in science, math, and technology. And we continued our free labs program for schools that serve lowincome students. In the year ahead, I hope you will visit The Tech and experience how we are becoming increasingly relevant to things that matter to you. See our new exhibits — Body Metrics, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, where you can explore the digital you; and Cyber Detectives, sponsored by Palo Alto Networks, opening this summer, where you can learn how to protect yourself in a digital age. Watch for our new evening program, Creative Collisions, which is designed to spawn new innovations and new thinking. Come to The Tech Awards gala and see how we are encouraging innovators worldwide to use technology to address humanity’s most difficult problems. We enter the new year with Marge Piercy’s poem “To Be of Use” in mind. She reminds us that: Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums but you know they were made to be used. The pitcher cries for water to carry and a person for work that is real. So, too, The Tech is made to be used. Our very real work is to ensure that when teachers, parents, and the community call for help, The Tech answers with resources that are relevant, creative and, well, useful.
Tim Ritchie, President and CEO 2 | The Tech Museum
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Letter from the Chairman Donor spotlight Corporate donor spotlight Member spotlight Staff spotlight Volunteer spotlight Annual Report 2014 Girl sparks appreciation for a new approach
Made @ The Tech is a magazine produced periodically for members, supporters, and friends of The Tech Museum of Innovation. If you have questions about this publication, contact Amy Pizarro, Director of Media and Community, at apizarro@thetech.org.
201 South Market Street San Jose, CA 95113 408-294-8324 thetech.org facebook.com/thetechmuseum twitter.com/thetechmuseum instagram.com/thetechmuseum Editor Amy Pizarro Graphic designer Krista Thomas Copy editor Betsy Towner Levine
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18 New exhibits explore cyber security, genetics 20 Imagining possibilities for City Hall plaza 22 Tech Awards visionaries light the way 26 Tech for good at new teen workshops
28 IMAX takes filmgoers to new heights 30 Building it bigger, better: The Tech Challenge 32 Expanded Tech Studio inviting to all 34 Photo essay: A day at The Tech
Photography Na’im Beyah Don Feria Jocelyn Fong Danny Haeg Scott Hamman Erin Lubin Jakub Mosur Rebekah Nelson Emily Ramos Santa Clara University Stanford Medicine X David Whitman
Leadership team Tim Ritchie President and CEO
Contributors Linda Antonopoulos Catherine Burgyan Barbara Carman Jessica Christie Michelle Duncan Danny Haeg Scott Hamman Matthew Ivan Cathy Jensen Dick King Marika Krause Brandon Lewke Abby Longcor Miki Masuda Talance Orme Tim Ritchie Linda Tsai Prinda Wanakule David Whitman Rachel Wilner Leslie Zane
Harvard Sung CFO Bill Bailor Vice President, Operations Lath Carlson Vice President, Exhibits Maria Pappas Vice President, Development Gretchen Walker Vice President, Education David Whitman Vice President, The Tech Awards Rachel Wilner Vice President, Media and Community Charles Pearson Director, Information Systems
Spring 2015 | 3
Letter from the Chairman
Board of Directors
Thanks to the support of donors like you, it is time to celebrate another successful year at The Tech Museum of Innovation. I am pleased to note a few highlights of last year and to let you know what is coming next.
Michael R. Abbott Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
In spring 2014 we hosted REBOOT:music, featuring 16 installations by renowned artists that invited visitors to collaborate and explore the boundaries of music-making. This collection of imaginative, original musical instruments stirred our visitors’ creative spirits.
Emmanuel Barbara Silicon Valley Education Foundation James J. Barrese PayPal Harry E. Blount DISCERN
The 2014 Tech Challenge, Harnessing the Wind, was a resounding success with a record high of more than 2,000 participants. Students in grades 5–12 converged at The Tech to test their homemade devices — could their inventions use wind power to transport water from one location to another? Many did, and unique solutions were everywhere!
Sally Hazard Bourgoin SHB Associates
In the fall we opened Body Metrics, our new permanent exhibit, presented by Kaiser Permanente with technology sponsor NetApp. Featuring a three-piece Sensor Kit to record each visitor’s mental and physical states in real time, the exhibit focuses on wearable technology and how people can use big-data tech to improve their well-being. Conceived and developed by The Tech’s exhibits team, Body Metrics is a perfect example of where The Tech is headed: exhibits that focus as much on what visitors bring to the experience as on what the exhibit can teach them.
Chuck Boynton SunPower Corporation
We want visitors to engage with exhibits that challenge them to find solutions to some of life’s great problems. Our new Cyber Detectives exhibit, sponsored by Palo Alto Networks, opening this summer, asks visitors to assume the role of a security professional who must protect data and privacy. Later in 2015 we’ll launch DIY Genetics, which focuses on the use of biotech for advances in food and medicine, and we’ve begun preliminary work on an exhibit focusing on sustainable living, both on Earth and potentially in space. The Tech continues to evolve, striving to be the space that our community needs and deserves. Our Tech 3.0 fundraising campaign, with a goal of raising $60 million in the next several years, will help us transform the museum into a resource for innovation with an emphasis on design-challenge learning. It’s an exciting time at The Tech, and your support is making all of this possible. Thank you! Sincerely, Chris DiGiorgio Chairman, Board of Directors 4 | The Tech Museum
Ann S. Bowers Past Board Chair Noyce Foundation Chris Boyd Kaiser Permanente
Teresa Briggs Deloitte LLP Edward G. Cannizzaro Board Treasurer KPMG LLP Gloria Chen Adobe Hon. David D. Cortese Santa Clara County David S. Crawford Bain & Company, Inc. James C. Deichen SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Christopher S. DiGiorgio Board Chair Accenture (retired) Joseph W. Fabris Plus 3 Network Robert A. Grimm Hewlett-Packard Company (retired) William W. Heil, Jr. VMware Gerald D. Held The Held Group Dave House Joe Kava Google Cathy K. Kimball San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Randy Krenzin Wells Fargo Advisors Dan’l Lewin Microsoft Bill B. May NewsBalance LLC R. L. Smith McKeithen Enconcert, Inc. Vinod Mehta Volunteer Representative Jami Dover Nachtsheim Intel Corporation (retired) Omkaram Nalamasu Applied Materials Stuart C. Pann Hewlett-Packard Company Daniel Perez OnCore Manufacturing Services Frank P. Quattrone Past Board Chair Qatalyst Group Roger J. Quinlan Board Secretary SAP America, Inc. A. Peter Relan Crowdstar Tim Ritchie President & CEO The Tech Museum of Innovation Matthew Sapp Ernst & Young LLP Archana Sathaye Sathaye Family Foundation Judy C. Swanson The Swanson Foundation James Vanides Hewlett-Packard Company John Vitalie Daniel J. Warmenhoven Board Vice Chair NetApp Steven Young HGGC
Donor spotlight
Judy and Erica Swanson Judy Swanson and her daughter Erica have been among The Tech’s most generous donors for more than 20 years. Much of their philanthropy is motivated by the memory of Bob Swanson, Judy’s husband and father of Katie and Erica. Bob passed away in 1999. As a teenager, Bob had a goal: to change the world for the better. His passion led him to MIT, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s in management. Later he founded Genentech, the biotechnology pioneer that prides itself on development of innovative and lifesaving medicines. Bob joined the board of The Tech in 1989, long before the museum was even constructed. Shortly after Bob’s death, The Tech launched an initiative called The Tech Awards. The fledgling program honored innovators around the world who use technology to benefit humanity. Judy was asked to attend the inaugural gala, and though she felt hesitant, she decided it was important to represent Bob’s legacy. Today Judy describes being humbled and inspired by the laureates that first year. She saw her husband’s legacy in the work of these innovators who were making the world a better place. When the opportunity to sponsor an award arose four years later, Judy stepped up, creating the Katherine M. Swanson Equality Award in memory of their daughter, Katie, who had died at the age of 22. Judy and Erica have been passionate supporters of The Tech ever since. Judy now serves as chair of The Tech Awards executive committee, helping to improve the structure of judging and encouraging staff to find new ways reach out to potential laureates. She
From left, Mariana Prieto, Kimberly Chow, Judy Swanson, Erica Swanson, Johnathan Beckhardt and Lesley Marincola, at The Tech Awards in 2012.
is fearless about making a change if it means increasing the reach of The Tech Awards. Judy is at her happiest when problem solving, and The Tech has benefitted from her commitment and drive. In 2011 Judy and Erica changed the focus of their laureate category, establishing the Katherine M. Swanson Young Innovator Award for laureates under the age of 28. This award is especially meaningful to their family, as Bob was only 28 when he founded Genentech. Judy is dedicated to empowering young people to make a difference, and this passion is a core part of the philanthropic projects Judy and Erica support. A leadership gift from their family has launched a meet-up series called Creative Collisions, which will bring together young innovators and entrepreneurs to mimic the dynamic ecosystem that gave birth to the Silicon Valley we know today. These evening events will help increase the museum’s relevance to the community, and they may even inspire the next great company that will change the world. The Swanson family’s incredible commitment to supporting and encouraging young people at The Tech has been transformative for the museum. We are grateful for the many ways they spur and celebrate innovation.
Spring 2015 | 5
Corporate donor spotlight Google
On three special days this spring, thousands of children from schools that serve low-income families will descend upon The Tech for field trips with all the bells and whistles. They’ll participate in a science lab, see an educational IMAX movie, and enjoy lunch out. Even the bills for transportation and food have been taken care of by one of our most dedicated corporate sponsors: Google. “Google is proud to support an organization that encourages young minds to use technology to solve the world’s most pressing problems,” said Joe Kava, Tech board member and Google’s vice president of data centers. Google Field Trips are just one of many ways the global tech giant supports the museum. Altogether, the company has donated more than $1 million that has helped fund The Tech’s Smart Museum initiative and The Tech Awards. 6 | The Tech Museum
During the national Hour of Code in December, Google volunteers helped museum visitors explore Blockly, a series of visual games that teach programming. Volunteers from Google have also shared their business expertise, including two who donated more than 100 hours of their time to help craft a business plan for The Tech’s new evening meet-up series, Creative Collisions, that will launch in 2015. “We can’t say enough about the caliber of volunteers from Google who are actively involved with The Tech,” said Linda Tsai, foundations relations director. “Their commitment to our mission of helping others realize their potential in science and engineering is remarkable and evident in the halls of the museum.” More than a million visitors have also had the chance to digitally explore all corners of the globe thanks to a Google-donated exhibit that surrounds guests with seven large-scale monitors displaying Google Earth. “Google employees are inspired when they volunteer at the museum, and we look forward to one day recruiting the young visitors just starting to build their skills in innovation,” Kava said.
Member spotlight Glenn Brassington
Parents who have helped their children dress for career day know there’s no shortage of inspiring figures to choose from, as astronauts, doctors, firefighters, and teachers regularly crowd school hallways. Staff members at The Tech are particularly proud of the profession chosen by one of the museum’s youngest members. Kindergartener Glenn Brassington — now 7 years old — dressed up as a Tech employee, complete with his own black polo shirt, handmade nametag, and business cards. “Glenn told his class he wanted to work at The Tech because he likes it here so much,” said Scott Hamman, program coordinator for The Tech Challenge. “His energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm for what we do are amazing.” The staff was so touched by this tribute that they arranged for Glenn to have a real Tech polo and official name badge, which his parents say he treasures and always wears on museum visits. Glenn, who lives in Sunnyvale, may be familiar to visitors: He spends as many as four days a week exploring exhibits and even giving tours. He is also bilingual, often testing staff members on their Spanish-speaking skills and participating in The Tech’s bilingual family math classes. “I tell my friends it’s an innovation museum, and it’s really good, and you should come down and learn,” Glenn said. “There’s just so much to do! Let’s say you want to be an astronaut. You can ride the jet pack chair. If you want to be an engineer, you can build a building. If you want to be a lab scientist, you can put jellyfish genes into bacteria and make it glow. There’s even a cool exhibit for musicians. It’s great!” And nothing new gets past Glenn, whose eyes lit up when he saw an update to his beloved jet pack chair in the Exploration Gallery. “Mom, look!” he exclaimed. “They put a cushion here — just like we suggested!”
It’s a welcome addition for a kid who spent more than a year sitting in his dad’s lap in order to be tall enough to maneuver the jet pack. Glenn’s mom, Paulina Brassington, says it’s that kind of excitement that keeps her family coming back to The Tech. “My son loves it here,” said Paulina, an engineer from Mexico. “We spend quality time together as a family while he learns about genetics, math, design, physics, robotics, and electronics.” Glenn’s dad, a university professor who is also named Glenn, said that when his son wants to know how something works, Tech staff members encourage him to play with exhibits and learn for himself. One extra-special staff member Glenn talks very fondly about is Peter Keenan, a retired physicist who maintains the robots exhibits and is an inspirational teacher and mentor for Glenn. This experiential learning has affected how he learns in other areas; his piano teacher said Glenn asks questions other kids don’t, such as why patterns of notes look different from one page to the next but are played the same. “The Tech Museum has really improved Glenn’s thinking, questioning, and love of all things tech,” his dad said. “His mother and I can’t wait to see what he will create when he is older that will improve the quality of life of people from all over our planet.” Spring 2015 | 7
Staff spotlight
Prinda Wanakule, Educational Programs Manager From flying fruitcakes to DIY music boxes, The Tech offers fascinating programs to guests young and old. And there’s one staff member who has a hand in it all. Prinda Wanakule joined The Tech in 2013 as educational programs manager, overseeing The Tech Studio and workshops. These types of handson opportunities were once special-occasion offerings, but Prinda has helped expand the programs to be part of the daily guest experience. Her favorite workshops include those in which participants learn about circuits, such as Hack Your Notebook or DIY Ugly Holiday Sweater. “I love it when visitors complete circuits — when their lights light up, their eyes light up,” said Prinda, whose team of seven educators and designers experimented with steel-laced thread and conductive tape to customize sweaters and notebooks with lights. “I love to get creative and manipulate materials you wouldn’t normally think to use.” Prinda earned a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and her father is an engineer. But she said she often invokes the creative flair of her mother, a chef and artist who specialized in carving fruits and vegetables. When considering careers, Prinda found the academic world of engineering a little slow and too structured, but for her The Tech is a perfect blend of “learn, fix, try.” “What I really like is the whole mindset of what you can learn when you just dive in,” Prinda said. “We love prototyping and live by ‘fail early, fail often.’ I tell visitors to just try it out and learn from it. Not succeeding on the first try is often a more rewarding experience.” 8 | The Tech Museum
“I love it when visitors complete circuits — when their lights light up, their eyes light up.”
In a recent “cookie-catcher” activity, visitors used recycled materials to build a device that could pick up 3D-printed gingerbread people. When guests took the arguably easy route of creating a chopsticks-like contraption, Prinda’s team added rules to make the task a little more difficult. The next set of devices had visitors thinking of even more possibilities. “There are so many different ways to succeed,” Prinda said. “We want people to think about things in a new way and improve their designs.” The Tech Studio has undergone a renovation that will allow for greater participation in these activities. At the same time, Prinda’s team is shifting away from disposable materials like cardboard and tape to more sustainable and flexible pieces that can be used for multiple workshops. There will also be open-ended programs offered daily. “People can come in and create items that are personal and important to them,” Prinda said. “That’s really what The Tech is all about. It’s why I’m here!”
Volunteer spotlight
Don Clendenin and Phoebe Song Each year more than 375 people share their time, enthusiasm, and passion for people and technology as part of The Tech’s volunteer team. Two volunteers in particular stand out in their efforts to inspire the innovator in everyone.
Don Clendenin joined The Tech in September, accumulating more than 230 volunteer hours in his short tenure so far. Don has served as an exhibit interpreter in the galleries, helped repair cubes in Social Robots, and much more. He lives by this motto: “When you help someone succeed, everyone succeeds.” The Tech is fortunate to have Don nurturing that collaborative spirit among our guests. He also volunteers at his local church, at the Community Emergency Response Teams for Milpitas and Mountain View, and is a licensed HAM radio operator.
Phoebe Song has racked up more than 130 hours as a high school volunteer, a role she took on in May 2013. Phoebe serves on the Volunteer Advisory Board, which has the goal of enhancing the guest experience at The Tech. She has also devoted her time to creek and beach cleanups, community garden maintenance, and peer tutoring. At school Phoebe is studying AP math and science, has served as an officer in both the Women in Computer Science Club and the National Art Honor Society, and is a founding member of the environmental club. Phoebe plays the piano and a Chinese instrument called the pipa, and she enjoys dancing.
We need you! Many volunteer positions are available to fit your skills, talents, and schedule. To learn more, contact us at 408-795-6190 or volunteer@thetech.org. Spring 2015 | 9
Thank you! In a thousand ways big and small, The Tech’s donors, volunteers, and friends make a difference in our community every day. Your gifts show in a budding engineer’s furrowed brow as she constructs a “building” that can withstand an earthquake. And a teacher’s newfound enthusiasm as he learns new
ways to engage students in STEM. And a young entrepreneur’s tears of pride at The Tech Awards, as the ballroom booms with cheers for her. All of these moments are possible because of the supporters we honor on the following pages. On behalf of the innovators who benefit from the very real impact of your generosity, we offer our sincerest thanks.
Annual Report summary Total revenue for The Tech Museum of Innovation, including in-kind, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, was $20.8 million and included $2.1 million of contributions to The Tech 3.0 capital campaign. The highlight of the fiscal year was $11.5 million in contributions representing 55% of total revenue. Earned revenue from ticket sources such as general admissions, tickets to traveling exhibitions and special-event facility rentals accounted for 33%. Public support from the City of San Jose equaled 12% and included both a general operating subsidy as well as the value of donated space occupied by the museum. Strong revenues and an expense level of $19.2 million resulted in a surplus for the year. This surplus will primarily be used to renovate exhibits and enhance the overall visitor experience. 76% of The Tech’s expenses were allocated to programs, 13% to marketing and administration, and 11% to fundraising. This strong financial performance helped the Tech retain its four-star rating, the highest possible, by Charity Navigator, America’s leading independent charity evaluator.
Revenue
12%12%
Contributions: $11,546,567 Contributions: $11,546,567
33%33% 55%55%
Earned: Earned:
$6,840,951 $6,840,951
Public: Public:
$2,421,113 $2,421,113
Total Revenue Total Revenue
11%11% 13%13% 76%76%
$20,808,631 $20,808,631
Expenses Programs: $14,583,028 $14,583,028 Programs: Marketing and Marketing and Administration: $2,505,236 Administration: $2,505,236 Fundraising: $2,124,385 $2,124,385 Fundraising: Total Expenses $19,212,649 $19,212,649 Total Expenses Spring 2015 | 11
CORPORATE AND INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATES As of June 30, 2014
The Tech Museum of Innovation gratefully acknowledges the following corporations, foundations, and governmental agencies for their gifts. INSPIRATIONAL ($1,000,000 and above) City of San Jose DISTINGUISHED ($500,000 - $999,000) Applied Materials, Inc. Noyce Foundation Bright Lights Award BENEFACTOR ($250,000-$499,000) Advocate Creative TIME Inc. VISIONARY ($100,000-$249,999) California STEM Learning Network and California Afterschool Network Cisco Systems, Inc. El Camino Hospital Flextronics Forbes, Inc. Forever Young Foundation House Family Foundation Intel Corporation Microsoft Corporation Nokia Research Center Polycom, Inc. ScholarShare College Savings Plan FOUNDING ($50,000-$99,999) Aramark Sports, Entertainment & Conventions - West Aruba Networks, Inc. Bank of America EMC Corporation McCune Audio/Video/Lighting Monterey Peninsula Foundation Motorola Solutions Foundation NASDAQ OMX Group Educational Foundation, Inc. NBC Bay Area Qatalyst Partners LP Ruder-Finn Samsung SAP Seagate Technology, Inc. PRINCIPAL ($25,000-$49,999) Accenture Adobe Systems Incorporated Amgen Foundation Bain & Company Benesse Corporation Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. Coca-Cola Company Ernst & Young Fairchild Semiconductor GoDaddy Google, Inc. JPMorgan Chase Juniper Networks Foundation Fund KPMG LLP KQED-TV Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company Oracle Corporation San Jose One Connection SanDisk Corporation Leo M. Shortino Foundation SunPower Foundation TE Connectivity Foundation 12 | The Tech Museum
Tech Shop United Nations Foundation Wells Fargo Bank Xilinx, Inc. UNDERWRITING ($10,000-$24,999) ARM Asset Management Company Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. Cavium, Inc. Cisco SAE Dazian Deloitte Services LLP eBay, Inc. FIRST Genentech, Inc. Good Technology Hilton San Jose Hon Hai-Foxconn IBM Corporation Jamieson Ranch Vineyards John S. and James L. Knight Foundation KLA-Tencor Corporation Klutz Legacy Venture The David H. Liu Foundation Mentor Graphics New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Palo Alto Medical Foundation Qualcomm Foundation Raytheon Applied Signal Technology, Inc. Risk Management Solutions Inc. San Jose Marriott San Jose Mercury News Santa Clara University SAP Labs, Inc. Signature Flight Services Silicon Valley Bank Silver Lake Sumeru STMicroelectronics, Inc. Studio 9+ SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Symantec Corporation INVESTING ($5,000-$9,999) Atmel Corporation Boston Private The Fairmont San Jose First Solar Hewlett-Packard Company Integrated Device Technology Inc. MacGillivray Freeman Films The Markkula Foundation The Moca Foundation Nordstrom Oracle Plantronics Plus 3 Foundation PMC-Sierra, Inc. Sarah’s Vineyard Silicon Valley Business Journal Sun Edison Synopsys, Inc. Technology Credit Union Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation SPONSORING ($2,500-$4,999) Avalon Morrison Park Hitachi Data Systems Maxim Integrated Morrison Foerster Foundation Oncore Manufacturing SignatureWines.com SRI International Stanford Social Innovation Review
Tesla Motors Thomas Fogarty Winery ENTREPRENEURIAL ($1,000-$2,499) Almaden Printing ARM Financial LLC Avnet Contributions Council Blackbird Tavern Café Primavera City Lights Limousines Courtside Club EventNetwork Ferrari Maserati of Silicon Valley General Electric Gordon Biersch Brewing Company Hardware Specialty Co. Inc. Hayward Quartz Technology, Inc. Intel Volunteer Grant Program Isu Petasys Minntronix Montalvo Arts Center Northrop Grumman Corporation Outdoor Adventure River Specialists O’Reilly Media, Inc. PureMatter Raging Waters Rally San Jose Water Company Santa Clara Valley Water District Space Systems/Loral Speck Products Thermo Fisher Scientific Union Bank of California
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS As of June 30, 2014
The Tech Museum of Innovation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals for their gifts. VISIONARY ($100,000 and above) Ann S. Bowers Signe Ostby and Scott Cook Karen Mullarkey The Frank and Denise Quattrone Foundation Judy and Erica Swanson Charmaine and Dan Warmenhoven FOUNDER ($50,000-$99,999) Ann Howland-Doerr and John Doerr Barbara and William Heil, Jr. Deedee and Burton McMurtry Betty and Gordon Moore Kathleen Justice-Moore and Steven E. Moore John M. Sobrato and Abby Sobrato Fund AMBASSADOR ($25,000-$49,999) Jimi and Ned Barnholt Robert Grimm Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation Shirley Liebhaber Joanne E. Harrington and Lorry I. Lokey Sathaye Family Foundation The Tech Museum of Innovation Employee and Volunteer Fund INNOVATOR ($10,000-$24,999) Christina and James Barrese Sally Hazard Bourgoin and John Bourgoin Teresa Briggs Mary Lee and Edward Cannizzaro Esther and Aart de Geus Susan and John Diekman Eileen and Christopher DiGiorgio
Lori and Joe Fabris Barbara and John Glynn Pooja Mittal and Vikas Gupta Beverly and Kenneth Haughton Connie and Jerry Held The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation Shannon and Joseph Kava Neeru and Vinod Khosla Gay and Bill Krause Susan and Dan’l Lewin Worth and Andy Ludwick Dianne and Regis McKenna Karen and Jeffrey A. Miller Morgan Family Foundation Jami Dover Nachtsheim and Stephen Nachtsheim Josie and Dan Perez Michael Petersen Bobbie and David Pratt Christine and Tim Ritchie Diane Greene and Mendel Rosenblum Amy and Matthew Sapp Judy and Les Vadasz Jack Wheatley Ho-Tzu Yen and Yung-Tsai Yen Anonymous INVESTING ($5,000-$9,999) Jennifer and Charles Boynton Renee and David Crawford Ann and John Dawson Kathy and James Deichen Nan and Charles Geschke Eva and Andrew Grove Karen and Richard King Kathleen and Smith McKeithen Cathy and Roger J. Quinlan Renuka and Peter Relan Jeanne and Sanford Robertson Donna Dubinsky and Leonard Shustek Marva and John Warnock Anonymous SPONSORING ($2,500-$4,999) Nancy Blachman Anna and Rob Bradshaw Paul Chamberlain Peggy and Yogen Dalal Anne and Adrian Dollard Susan Elgee and Stephen J. Eglash Mary Ellen and Michael E. Fox, Sr. The Brett and Michelle Galloway Foundation Patricia and Martin Giles David Hitz Stacey Keare and John Hodge Maureen and David Kennedy Robert S. Kieve Shawn and Douglas MacKenzie Marka and Bill May Kim Worsencroft and Dennis L. McEvoy Lavon and Dean Morton Julie Packard Cindy and Randy Pond Kathleen and Mark Santora Richard Tarrant Anonymous ENTREPRENEURIAL ($1,000-$2,499) Marianne Baldrica Mechelle and Manny Barbara Barbara and Frank Barone Gordon Bell Paul F. Billig Suzie and Harry Blount J. Rob Born Robert Bynum
Liz and Lath Carlson Karin and Steven Chase Stuart Cheshire Fannie Allen and George W. Cogan Sandi and Richard Conniff Sonja and Bill Davidow Marla and James deBroekert Lynette and Dick DiNapoli J. Philip and Jennifer DiNapoli Foundation Celia and Jim Dudley Joan and Alan Earhart Concepción and Irwin Federman Elwanda and William Fenwick Jeanne and Frank Fischer Kama and Tom Fletcher Susan Fondacaro Renu and Dhrumil Gandhi Susan Valeriote and Kenneth Goldman Hon Mai and Joseph Goodman The Amer Haider Charitable Fund Jan Half Arline and James Harper Peggy and Fred Heiman Noreen and Jim Helvie Neera and Naresh Kapahi Gail Kendall and Family Cathy and Kevin Kimball Carolyn and Mark Koenig Jennifer Konecny Jennifer and Randy Krenzin Terry and Bill Krivan James Learner Catherine Pierson Lego Laura Becker-Lewke and Reynold Lewke Karen and Walter Loewenstern Shilin Jiang and Gregory Luth Marnie Mar and Butch Francisco Alison and Michael Mauzé Kathie and Bob Maxfield Christina and Webb McKinney Joyce Milligan Willy and Jim Mitchell Dave Mosley Maria and Anthony Pappas Gina Pell Carrie and Greg Penner Hal R. Powell Jan and Don Provan Dorothy H. Reagan (in memory of Joseph B. Reagan) Beth and Stephen Robie Maria Constantino-Roelandts and Willem Roelandts Catherine E. Rossi-Roos and Mark Roos Jay Rossiter The Somekh Family Foundation Patricia Roboostoff Splinter and Mike Splinter Mary E. Murphy and Mark C. Stevens Kavita Tankha Daniel M. Tellep Andrea and Joseph Thomas Margaret and John Thompson Barry Uphoff Janet and Jim Vanides John Vitalie Jana Van DeGoor-Washington and Kenneth Washington Rachel and Jon Wilner Elizabeth B. Wolf The King and Linda Won Family Fund Anonymous EXPLORER ($500-$999) Lucia Soares and Miguel Avila Sharon and Alan Bagley
Shawn Bass Russita and Arvind Bedi Chris Boyd Luann Aki and Tim Carlson Lucy and Chris Cesar Mayla and John Clark Caretha and Kenneth Coleman Pattie and David Cortese Ranae DeSantis Theodore Dobos Diane Shearer and Bill Fahsholtz Marilyn and Bob Garibaldi Kerri Gogolin Virginia and Wolfgang Henke Melinda Rogers and Eric Hixon Emily and Karen Holton Padmaja and Raju Induxuri Deborah Johnson Puja Kaul Kay Kleinerman Tom Larkins Pierre Lecomte Marilyn Librers Michelle Loftis Robin and Stephen MacDonald Elizabeth Witter and Jeffrey Mayer Maureen Langan and Dave Mewes Camille S. and Camille B. Mosley Peter G. Munzig Arun Narayanan Usha and Diaz Nesamoney Thomas Ngo Benjawan Choojit and John Nunes Todd Parker Travis M. Parsons Heidi Peterson Elizabeth Williams and José Rios Jenny Risk Kristi and Rich Saso David Selinger Laura Strand Pamela and Edward Taft Mark Takacs Richard Taylor Anthony Telesmanic Janet Brownstone and Andrew Verhalen Julianne Wagner Michelle and Michael Zappe Horace Zona SUSTAINING ($250-$499) Allison and Steven Aldrich Djadmika Ali Molly Anderson ASTD Golden Gate Chapter Amber Averill Sarah Azad Diana Morabito and Keith Ball Sameeta and Dhiraj Ballal Sandeepan Banerjee Laura Barton Steve Battung Kanesha and Tahllee Baynard Nancy Beckman Angela Bedell Annie and Robert Bedichek Carol Berg Trista and Joshua Bernstein Eric Bettinger Penelope and Ernest R. Blake Martine Peetermans and Ivo Bolsens Robert Boothby Cecelia and Edward Boris Susan Borkin Joan and John Bower Spring 2015 | 13
Kristin and Blaine Bowman Alexandria Breitman Tim Brengle Christine and Paul Briner Denise Brodersen Marcie and Chet Brown Shawn Bunger Agapi Burkard Marjorie J. Burnett Kim Burnham Atul Butte Kelly and Tom Byrne Elizabeth Carey Nancy and John Cassidy Kim Castro Yi-Chen Chan Paula and Hsin-Ping Chang Julius Chisolm Youngjin Choi Jessica Christie Mary and Michael Clarke Brendan Clavin Shemetta and Thomas Cobourn Armand Cohen Marion Barker and Paul Colby Denise and Timothy Cole Esmeralda Coller and John Coller Bichtho Conghuyen Ray Conley Linda and John Conover Robert Cook Karen Cooke Nancy and Alan Covington Sheila and Martin Coyne Bruce Crocker Susan Bradford-Moore Louise Cruz Roberta and Andras Csaplar Rebecca Dalelio Laura and Arnold de Leon The Delan Family Rachel Wise and Stephen Desantis Edward Draminski Jennifer and Leonard Dulski Amanda and Barry Eberly Jane and Wade Ellis Claudia Hill and L.C. Enoksen Michael Erikson Cecilia Escamilla Chris Eyre Roseanne Farris Deborah Faryniarz Dorothy and Julie Filice Fimby Flooring Inc. Harnovre Mallory Vidal and Benjamin Flores Jana Fore Sophie Horiuchi and Paul Forrester Mari and Derek Fujikawa Jeff Gabrielson Jenie Gany Thomas Garcia Tania Brewe and John Garcia Lenore Olivas and Rich Gee Wanda and Lance Ginner Stacy and Robert Gleixner Linda Golan Lowell Goss Charles Graf Heather and Dennis Green Monique and Mark Greenmun Mary Ann and John F. Grilli Martha J. Guthrie Marcia and Si Gutierrez Suzanne and David Guzzetta Alayne and Joseph Gyetvai 14 | The Tech Museum
Elaine and Eric Hahn Dina Y. Venezky and Stephen C. Hahn Sarahann Shapiro and Daniel Hales Brian Hamilton Bruce Handa Lisa Harrigan Jocelyn Hart Kush Hathi Lieselotte Heederick Ruth and David Helfinstein Kathleen and Richard Hendricks Andrea and John Hennessy Rosemary and Miguel Hernandez Marylyn Glover and Peter Hertan Michelle Hertel Cindy Estrada and Martin Hess Diana and Robert Hirahara Julia Hoffman Colby Holtshouse David House Jessie Hraban Su-Jan and Chung-Ho Huang Faith Hynoski Elisabeth and Pierre Irissou Muriel Ishikawa-Wood and Lowell L. Wood Andrea and Wilbur Jackson Runeh and Rafael Jaffarove Jurgen Jandeleit Ana Mendez and Rajeev Jayavant Lingling Jin Zem Joaquin Sandra Torchia and Kirk Johnson Jennifer and Roger Jones Olana Kahn Peggy and Mark Kaminsky Madhuri Ramanathan and Ashvin Kannan Steve Kelem Lisa and Jay Kerley James L. Kiske Cheryl Knepfler Paul Koch Nikhil Kolekar Michael and Ina Korek Foundation Trust Jerry Kozak Jihane Kubursi Tharun Kuppireddy Anita and Yucaipa Kwock Karen and Keith Lee Merijane Lee Sun Lee Regina Legates Wendy Leong David Lerner Karen Chu and Steven Leung Yin Ling Leung Nga Dang Bethany Lewis Michele and Bjorn Liencres Stephen A. Lima Kathleen and Larry Lincoln Barbara and William Linder Jian Liu Susie Liu Jinny and Mark Lockhart Jonathan Logan Gail Sheridan and Ralph Love Frank Lucero Rosemarie and Dale Luck Steven Lumos Alicia Rojas and Howard Lyons Joan and Robert Lyons Margaret and Philip Ma Bob MacDonald Yolanda Mangrum-Walsh Robert Marchant
Jorge Martinez Josephine McCall and Sandra Koelzer Joanne and Steven McCann Sharon and Edwin McCauley Richard McFarling Julia McGuire Al Medeiros Theresa Meditch Bette and Albert Mendizabal Archie Mesina Nancy Reagan and Charles Mignosa Vivian Mills Harold Morales Markos Moulitsas Martin Mueller Richard Murphy Kelli Nakamura Sudha Neelakantan Angie and Paul Newhagen Grace and Jennifer Nichols Susan and Arnim Nicolson Rubilene Noguera Mildred and Merlin Nygren Christiane and Alexander Ohlgart Pam Krebs-Oki and Mark Kiyoto Oki Robert Olivas III Christina Ornelas Nancy and Curtis Palm Dhruman Parmar Rajiv Patni Elizabeth and Tom Pavel Nick Pavlina Charles Pearson Victor Peng Eric Peterson Allegra Petras Fumiko Andrews and James L. Porter Nancy Porter Juan Prado Lee J. Pulver Marcia and Paul Queen Hollis Radin Tracy and Andrew Radle Sai Ramamoorthy Emily Ramos Jennifer Rebboah Ernesto Rey Erma Reyes Kim Richardson Kay and Neil Robinson Heather Rock Ricardo Rodriguez Diana and George Roeding Louis Rosa Alex Rueff Nancy Ruskin Linda Tsai and John Ryan Grace Nichols and Yuri Saito Caitlin Samenfeld-Specht Emma and Michael Sanchez Rebecca and Douglas Sayuk Karen Scarr Stephanie Schmidt Lisa Gonzales and Erik E. Schoennauer Steve Schramm Chad Scoma Elizabeth Verea and John W. Semion Anne Senti-Willis Michael Sexton Hemant Shah Vimal Shah Don Shepley Melissa Sheridan Christine Sherry Grace Shieh
Celine Shimizu Ben Simpson Rena Slama Jacqui and Pieter Smith Lawrence Snapp Charlene Newcomb and Jeff Soesbe Karen Songerwala Gloria and Evan Spanier Andrew Spray Sarah Springer Debra Stein Geraldine Steinberg-Thompson Marielle Warren and Daniel Steinberg Frances and Calvin Stevens Shannon Sullivan Peggy and Harvard Sung Karen Sutton Jawahar Swamwathan Robert Swan Brenda Swiney and James Sullivan Patricia Lowe and Seck Eng Tan Miriam Taimisto and Glenda G. Anderson Marilyn and Terry Terman TLC-Kids Heather Torres Janice Toyoshima and David Bungo Kathleen Troncoso Andrea Guerra and Marcus Tylutki Max Ulrich Teruo Utsumi Jennifer Varley Lisa Scheidecker and Andrew Velline Christina Vo Suzanne Voeller Marcie Vu Michael Wagner Diane and Clint Walker Mark Walker Edith Cohen and Alexander Wang Judy and Robert Ward Vevette Warioba Adam Weissman Ruth Su and James Wheat Caron and Rick Whitacre Norman White David Whiting Topher Wilkins Jorian and Topher Wilkins Trena Willey Mark Williams Dan T. Williamson Kathleen and Ray Wilson Deborah Winter Corrinne and Todd Wipke Anne and Derek Witty Michele and Alan Wong Elaine and Harvey Wong Melanie Wong Steven Wong Catherine Woo Barbara and John Woods Kathleen and Rich Woodward Cesar Woore Jennifer and Fred Worley Caleb Wright Donna and Lewis Yobs Emiliano Valdez/Youth Alliance Bo Xu Isaac Zamora Leah and Mark Zanella Jingna Zhang Zheng Zhen Jing Zhou Anonymous
TECH 3.0 CAMPAIGN As of June 30, 2014
The Tech Museum of Innovation would like to thank the following individuals, corporations, and foundations for their support of our Tech 3.0 campaign. This campaign began in 2012 and continues today with a $60 million goal to re-vitalize the museum and truly allow us to become a leading resource for innovation. $10,000,000 + Ann Bowers $1,000,000 - $4,999,999 Brin Wojcicki Foundation Bequest of Michael L. Hackworth Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Palo Alto Networks The Frank and Denise Quattrone Foundation Charmaine and Dan Warmenhoven $500,000 - $999,999 El Camino Hospital Google, Inc. Kaiser Permanente NetApp, Inc. Judy and Erica Swanson $100,000 - $499,999 Barbara and William Heil, Jr. Institute of Museum and Library Services The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Jami Dover Nachtsheim and Stephen Nachtsheim The David and Lucile Packard Foundation $50,000 - $99,999 Mary Lee and Edward Cannizzaro Susan and John Diekman Eileen and Christopher DiGiorgio Connie and Jerry Held Josie and Dan Perez Christine and Tim Ritchie $25,000 - $49,999 Kathy and James Deichen DNA2.0, Inc. Lori and Joe Fabris Robert Grimm Susan and Dan’l Lewin Anonymous $10,000 - $24,999 Christina and James Barrese Suzie and Harry Blount Teresa Briggs Facebook Shannon and Joseph Kava Marka and Bill May Kathleen and Smith McKeithen NeuroSky, Inc. Cathy and Roger J. Quinlan Rennka and Peter Relan $1,000 - $9,999 Mechelle and Manny Barbara Jennifer and Charles Boynton Renee and David Crawford Cathy and Kevin Kimball Jennifer and Randall Krenzin Maria and Anthony Pappas Sathaye Family Foundation John Vitale Anonymous
Spring 2015 | 15
With a raise of her hand, girl sparks appreciation for a new approach
By Danny Haeg “What’s that pink hand thing?” I heard that a lot working at the 3D printer station in The Tech Studio. But this time it was different. The girl asking would ultimately make us rethink how we use our 3D printers and prototyping tools in the studio. 16 | The Tech Museum
I turned around to see the speaker, who introduced herself as Ebba. The 9-year-old girl explained that she had just come from the electronics workshop we were hosting. Before I finished explaining that the “pink hand thing” was a 3D-printed prosthetic that our intern Claire Gutermuth of Davidson College had printed, Ebba raised her left hand and interrupted me: “I COULD USE THAT!”
Her left hand, she cheerfully explained, had been different since she was born — a few of her fingers didn’t fully develop and this made it difficult for her to grab larger objects with one hand. Claire, I later learned, had worked with Ebba all day in the electronics workshop. She had been struck by how passionate and bubbly Ebba was: She worked hard and her notebook was adorned with hand-drawn pictures of Toothless, her favorite character from “How to Train Your Dragon 2.” Claire hadn’t even been aware that Ebba had an upper-limb difference. And, to be clear: Ebba has a difference and not a disability. She works and plays and jokes like any young girl with a great sense of humor. We invited Ebba and her mother to return the next day so we could take measurements and generate a plaster hand cast for her own custom-printed prosthetic. This would help guide Claire’s modifications of a 3D design shared by an online community called E-nabling the Future. Their design is a simple, all-mechanical device that is worn like a glove. It allows users to grab and release objects simply by bending their wrist. The design experience proved useful for Claire. Her first encounter with 3D design software and printers had been only a few weeks earlier, on the first day of her summer internship at The Tech. Working on Ebba’s new hand, Claire cycled through iterations — designing and 3D printing and then redesigning. Her first designs were rough and didn’t even fit the plaster cast of Ebba’s hand. But Claire’s progress was impressive, and well supported by thousands of like-minded enthusiasts who were all posting their modifications and advice on the E-nabling the Future forum. The online team helped Claire tackle the changes needed for this specific design and she, in turn, passed along her findings to them.
After many testfittings, Claire finally presented Ebba with her new hand on the stage of the Medicine X conference at Stanford. The moment was dramatic and joyful for many reasons, but not because this hand would be a lifesaving or life-changing device. At least not by its physical function. The notion of a 3D printed prosthetic hand is still new and relatively undeveloped compared to its $10,000 professionally customized counterpart. But it has two important differences from that professionally made hand: It is cheap, and it is bright. By cheap, we mean very cheap: $30 in plastic and miscellaneous hardware. This is particularly useful for young clients who might break or grow out of a particular hand. The greatest cost is just the time needed to measure, design, print, and assemble the hand. But, of course, Ebba’s hand was given to her for free — just like every one of the thousands of hands printed by the E-nabling the Future community. The brightness of the hand is part of the brilliance of this design. Pink and purple and blue — Ebba wanted her hand to be an eye-catcher. Her design — and this prosthetic design in general — are not intended to mimic a real hand, but rather to stand out. And therein is the real genius of this hand: It’s beautiful because it is different. We’re so thankful Ebba came into our workshop and our lives; people like her inspire us to make more things beautiful and different. Danny Haeg, formerly the manager of the Tech Studio, was recently named director of Creative Collisions, The Tech’s new evening meetup series.
Spring 2015 | 17
Cracking codes
New exhibits offer cyber-sleuth training, DNA engineering A guiding question at The Tech is, “How do we create experiences that inspire the innovator in everyone?” And, to dig a little deeper, “How do we encourage innovation itself?” New exhibits at The Tech will unlock some answers. Building on the momentum of Body Metrics, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, which opened fall 2014, two openings this year support a theme central to The Tech’s identity. “Inspiring people to use technology to solve problems is at the core of what we do,” said Tim Ritchie, president. “The Tech is quickly becoming a community resource for innovation, and by focusing on creating our own exhibits, we’re more
Cyber Detectives Presented by Palo Alto Networks Opening summer 2015
agile and better able to empower our visitors.” An exhibit exploring online safety will help guests develop the skills to live a fulfilling and safe digital life while learning what it takes to be a cybersecurity professional. The other will offer a do-ityourself genetics experience, allowing visitors to manipulate synthetic DNA in a lab setting. The offerings will go far beyond teaching about lab equipment or a computer virus. “We’re less concerned about having all the answers and more concerned about having the best tools that can be used by as many people as possible,” Ritchie said. “We must provide our community with the necessary tools to solve problems and improve lives like never before.”
Come step into the role of a cyber sleuth in the nation’s first interactive exhibit about Internet privacy and online attacks. 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 by taking on the role of a cyber security professional in a full-fledged game. “People will walk away with the tools they need to stay safe online,” said Lath Carlson, vice president of exhibits. “Cyber security is a fascinating field, and much more about people and human behavior than the scary stuff. We made it a point to keep the experience empowering.” Cyber security has been a hot news topic due to surveillance and privacy issues raised with the leak of NSA files in 2013, plus recent data breaches of multiple major retailers and companies.
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“A few years ago, no one wanted to talk about online safety,” said Michelle Maranowski, curator and exhibit content developer. “If you ask people about it now, they’ll talk to you for a half-hour
about how it’s affected them personally, whether it’s an elderly person setting up her first computer or someone monitoring protests in his hometown on social media.”
40 percent job growth annually. Innovative people who can mitigate constantly moving threats are in high demand. As criminals evolve their methods, security leaders must stay ahead of them.
The Tech’s exhibits team designed Cyber Detectives with input from some of the world’s top experts, including many from Silicon Valley. Security professionals at Facebook, eBay, Intel, Symantec, Juniper Networks, and the FBI helped create an experience that explores risk assessment, legal issues, privacy, authentication, and prevention of cyber crime.
“No two threats are ever the same, so it’s an extremely creative field,” Maranowski said.
“These men and women are the people responsible for keeping us safe,” Maranowski said. “Being in the room with them was fascinating, and we can’t wait to share a slice of their expertise with our visitors.” The exhibit is geared to both kids and adults, and there’s good reason to get youngsters interested in such a career — the digital-defense field has seen
Still, according to latest research, in 2013 women held only 11 percent of information security positions. In an effort to draw the interest of girls — who, our research shows, tend to gravitate toward activities in which they can help others — exhibit designers chose a recycling plant to be the fictitious business visitors will save after completion of their cyber security training. “Security at its core really is about helping people,” Maranowski said. “If people walk away with new skills to help them personally, great. If girls are inspired to pursue a career in tech and innovation, even better.”
DIY Genetics Opening fall 2015
The Tech is poised to become the first museum to create a permanent space for the public to explore bio-tinkering. Its new DIY Genetics exhibit will include a biology makerspace where visitors will play with, design, and engineer synthesized DNA.
“Bioengineering is on the verge of some truly spectacular things,” said Romie Littrell, curator and health and biotech exhibit developer. “We’re excited to not only give our visitors a taste of it, but help them take part in it.”
“To be in an age where people have the ability to truly engineer organisms, much like you would metal or wood, is incredible.” Carlson said.
The space will include a living exhibit of engineered life along the lines of GloFish, a genetically modified fluorescent fish, or Golden Rice, a food altered to combat blindness in children with vitamin A deficiency. Such unusual life forms will inspire visitors to elevate their thinking about what’s possible in the bold new realm of synthetic biology and dare them to imagine what has yet to be discovered.
Harnessing the power of biological systems can help feed the world or clean up the environment. Synthetic biology is already used to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues in agriculture, fuel, and medicine. One day computers may have bioderived parts, and biosensors could be the norm in cancer treatment. DIY Genetics will help the community feel comfortable using wet lab equipment, exploring biology and — most importantly — imagining the possibilities.
“This exhibit will put The Tech on the map in the bio-tinkering community,” Ritchie said. “But perhaps just as importantly, it will put bioengineering in the hands of all of our visitors who could potentially create new things, smells, or colors. We’re truly inspiring the innovator in everyone.” Spring 2015 | 19
Knight Foundation, The Tech imagine possibilities for City Hall plaza San Jose has worked for decades to establish its downtown as a vibrant, active Silicon Valley hub. The Tech, with its prime location at downtown’s heart, is partnering to build on recent momentum and catalyze new efforts toward this goal. The Tech’s primary collaborator is Gehl Studio, the renowned global firm that specializes in people-centered urban design. Together we are reimagining City Hall Plaza — how it can engage and inspire residents and employees, bring communities together, and infuse innovation into San Jose government. With the support of a Knight Foundation grant, we hope this project will be a springboard for other initiatives to create a stronger sense of place all over the city. Early in 2015 The Tech conducted research and interviews to understand how residents and workers think about San Jose and its spaces, including their
20 | The Tech Museum
hopes, dreams, and aspirations for their city. This research will complement Gehl’s Public Space Public Life Survey, a quantitative look at who uses San Jose’s public spaces and how, and its Favorite Places Workshop, which invites community members to contribute their ideas. Next, the team built quick and rough prototype designs that meet community goals — solutions that change the way people use and perceive the space such as new seating, surfaces, shade structures, and communication tools. Based on the results, The Tech is making recommendations to City Hall for the creation of vibrant public spaces. We hope to catalyze public–private partnerships to make San Jose as appealing as possible to workers, business owners, and residents. This project will infuse innovation into City Hall culture, too. Opened in 2005, City Hall lacks a central gathering place for
employees where spontaneous conversations can generate new ideas. There is no available space to create one indoors. More plaza prototypes will be designed to encourage interaction among different departments, prompting deeper collaboration. This effort is The Tech’s first step in a wider one to foster civic innovation in San Jose. Recently we were named a finalist in the Knight Cities Challenge for our Civic One initiative, which invites the public to imagine and test solutions to one significant city issue each year. And all of this is a natural fit with our mission: to inspire the innovator in everyone. We are thrilled to be part of Knight Foundation’s effort to help San Jose transform into South Bay’s urban hub. The Tech wouldn’t exist without the support of San Jose residents, elected officials, and taxpayers. It’s our privilege to work with our hometown to imagine and invent a new future together.
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Tech Awards visionaries light the way ahead The Tech Awards’ 14th annual gala, presented by Applied Materials, was a phenomenal success November 13. Local and world luminaries gathered to celebrate The Tech’ signature international program and honor 10 laureates who are using technological innovation to solve the world’s biggest challenges. As the San Jose Mercury News observed in a glowing event review, “Cannes has its film festival. Hollywood’s got its Oscars. And Silicon Valley has its Tech Awards.” At the 2014 gala in the Grand Ballroom of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, laureates received a total of half a million dollars, with $75,000 and $25,000 prizes awarded in five categories: Environment, Education, Young Innovator, Health, and Economic Development. Philanthropist Ted Turner received the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award and Sal Khan, a 2009 laureate, was presented with the inaugural Laureate Impact Award to honor the ongoing success of Khan Academy. The Tech Awards laureates now number 277, and many have achieved global success. Since its inception in 2000, the program has awarded laureates $4.35 million in unrestricted cash prizes. “The Tech Awards team is proud to shine a bright light on innovators who are designing and adapting technologies to improve the human condition,” said David Whitman, Vice President and Executive Producer of The Tech Awards. “At the Gala, films, photography, music, and presentations portray the struggles and inspiring triumphs of the laureates.”
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The Tech partnered with Advocate Creative to convey the laureates’ stories by traveling around the world to film the impact of their innovations, from dairy farmers in Mexico to mothers in Kenya. This is the second year of the partnership, and 2013’s laureate films have earned 12 international awards. The awards ceremony was also visually stunning thanks to a collection of images from many of the world’s greatest photojournalists, curated for the sixth year running by legendary photography director Karen Mullarkey. Photographs were projected onto a huge screen in the ballroom. The photojournalists, National Geographic Creative, and other photo agencies contributed their work free of charge. The 2014 artistic theme of The Tech Awards Gala was “darkness and light,” which was explored in both the physical and humanistic sense. Throughout the event, hundreds of compelling images of Earth at night and of people in the darkest of circumstances showed on screen. They included images documenting child labor, environmental degradation, and conditions of the world’s poorest people. One of the most affecting was John Stanmeyer’s 2013 World Press Photo of the Year, depicting African migrants on the shore of Djibouti City at night, raising their phones to capture an inexpensive cell signal from nearby Somalia in hopes of talking to family abroad. In a study in contrasts, photos of what families around the world typically eat and drink in a week were shown during the Gala dinner. Thousands of people also took part in the ceremony through social media. People tweeted about how inspired they felt by the laureates, generating more than 16.5 million impressions worldwide. The audience received autographed copies of Doug Menuez’s acclaimed book “Fearless Genius: The Digital Revolution in Silicon Valley 1985–2000.” Additionally, laureates and major sponsors received autographed copies of “Living on a Dollar a Day” by Tom Nazario and Renée Byer at the laureate film preview.
Journalist and educator Simran Sethi served as the Gala host. Spring 2015 | 23
The Tech Awards Laureates 2014 Intel Environment Award Inventive Power: Developed solar technology to generate thermal energy in industrial and commercial sectors in Latin America. Source International: Provides technology and training enabling members of poor Latin American communities to examine their water, air, and soil for chemical contaminants. Microsoft Education Award Gooru: Provides an online platform for educators worldwide to personalize and share instructional content customized to students’ individual needs. Worldreader: Provides more than 200,000 young people around the world with training and e-readers with extended battery life. Katherine M. Swanson Young Innovator Award Nanoly: A team of young materials scientists from the University of Colorado is developing technology that eliminates the need to refrigerate vaccines. PAK-Energy Solution: Developed an affordable biogas unit for heating and cooking in Pakistani homes. Nokia Health Award Gradian Health Systems: Developed a machine to deliver anesthesia without compressed oxygen or continuous grid power. Operation ASHA: Created a system to monitor and track antibiotic delivery to tuberculosis patients in India. Flextronics Economic Development Award myAgro: Provides a mobile platform for more than 5,000 rural subsistence farmers in West Africa to save money for fertilizer and seed for the next planting season. Sanergy: Builds healthy, prosperous communities in Africa’s informal settlements by making hygienic sanitation accessible and affordable. Clockwise from top right, Tim Ritchie, president of The Tech; DJ Patil, presenter; and Ted Turner, recipient of the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award. 24 | The Tech Museum
The innovator in us: refining the program In an effort to improve The Tech Awards, our team made several program and process upgrades in 2014: •
The judging process was brought inhouse. Craig Stephens, professor of public health at Santa Clara University, served as consultant, and the panels were expanded to include academics, social entrepreneurs, and former laureates. We also introduced a two-tiered system: First-round evaluators winnowed applicants to 20 semifinalists per category, whose nominations were sent on to expert judges for consideration. This system allowed 25 finalists from five categories to be celebrated prior to the announcement of the 10 laureates, increasing awareness of the program and sponsors.
•
Staff for sourcing was increased to two team members thanks to the addition of an Encore Fellow, an experienced, retiring professional transitioning to a new stage of work with a non-profit. Personalized invitations were emailed to about 800 potential applicants. Thanks to a partnership with YouNoodle, a competition hub for early stage innovators, there was an increase of applicants in the Young Innovator category. Overall, we saw a 20% increase in applications from 2013.
•
Workshops and activities offered during Convergence — the days before the gala when laureates are immersed in networking, funding and media opportunities — increased in quality and quantity. From dinner at a donor’s house to an afternoon of pitch-coaching with two local venture capitalists, the laureates were welcomed and introduced to VIPs at premier universities and corporations throughout Silicon Valley.
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New teen workshops teach tech for good The Tech Awards, presented by Applied Materials, is a hallmark program of The Tech, well known for its support of innovators and the communities that are lifted up by their humanitarian work around the world. It was with great excitement in 2014 that the program widened its scope to include teens right here in the Bay Area. The Tech’s new Social Innovation Workshop series, a partnership with the Frugal Innovation Lab at Santa Clara University, NASDAQ OMX, and Accenture, works in the spirit of The Tech Awards to teach young innovators how to use their skills to help the world. “I feel empowered to help people who are less privileged than myself, and I feel empowered to make these people’s lives better,” a participant said. In fact, “I feel empowered” was said repeatedly by young participants in these workshops, which engage youth in the design process to solve real-world problems using interactive hands-on projects and advanced technology. Each workshop featured a topic expert who introduced participants to the issue. Then Santa Clara graduate and undergraduate students provided mentorship as the youths used the design process to create solutions. “More and more technology is about impact and how we create durable, sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems,” said Radha Basu, Director of SCU’s Frugal Innovation Lab. “We’re delighted that our students not only serve as role models in this endeavor, but help teach the next generation that innovation is about more than finding the most high-tech solution. It’s about being creative enough to use technology to address basic human needs in an affordable and accessible manner.” 26 | The Tech Museum
The series kickoff in April featured 2013 Tech Awards Laureate Alejandro Maza, founder and CEO of OPI, a Mexico-based firm dedicated to increasing participation in public policy for citizens who don’t have access to the Internet. Maza helped students design apps to serve the homeless population, with a special emphasis on empathy in the design phase.
“I feel empowered” was said repeatedly by young participants in these workshops. “I understand how easy it really is to actually make a difference in someone’s life, just by using existing technology and your own creativity,” one participant said. Other workshop topics were: • 3D printing in biomedical engineering, including prosthetics design, printing organs, and tissue regeneration •
Sustainable and renewable building materials, which were used to build scale models of earthquake-safe buildings
•
Clean water access, during which water filters were created using easily obtainable materials
“I want to test my own water at home and I want to use my new skill to help others,” said a participant after the clean water access workshop. Participants were selected through an essay-based application process, and all costs were covered by Young Social Innovator Scholarships thanks to funding from NASDAQ OMX and Accenture. “It made me want to be a scientist,” one student noted. A notable achievement of the fledgling program was its rate of female enrollment, with girls comprising 63 percent of participants.
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IMAX takes movie fans around – and out of – this world By Michelle Duncan The Tech inspires the innovator in everyone in so many ways, but for many guests, this magic happens in the iconic Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater. In 2014 The Tech educated, enlightened, and entertained more than 161,000 guests here. Our eight-story screen brought science and the natural world to life for audiences who swam with whale sharks in Papua, sang with lemurs in Madagascar, and explored invisible life that surrounds us all. What’s it like to swim with a whale shark? Guests found out when “Journey to the South Pacific” opened in February. To extend the learning beyond the theater, The Tech worked with MacGillivray Freeman Films to secure a grant that funded school-trip viewings and brought in two marine biologists to speak. Museum guests got to pose for photos with a 25-foot inflatable whale shark. “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar” introduced us to different species of the primates in their natural habitat and the perils that island faces. The museum programs team created a lemurlaunching aerodynamic design challenge for students to reinforce the educational messages in the film.
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National Geographic’s “Mysteries of the Unseen World” shows us creatures and actions our naked eye can’t detect, at a pace that keeps even youngsters interested. Highlights include timelapse images of growing mold and decomposing fruit, and the slow-motion wonder of a droplet hitting water. This entrancing film even challenges us to imagine a cancer-free world thanks to discoveries being made in nanotechnology. Movie fans also love to revisit their Hollywood favorites in our theater, and what a treat they had when The Tech secured one of just five IMAX 15/70 film prints of the special anniversary release of the 1993 blockbuster “Jurassic Park.” Fans were greeted by the park’s “tour guides” and that familiar yellow Jeep in front of the museum. And speaking of blockbusters, our Harry Potter film festival drew fans dressed as their favorite characters eager to revisit the famous wizarding world. This solid slate of films earned high marks from audience surveys. But nothing could have prepared us for the phenomenon of “Interstellar.” The October kickoff was a three-minute trailer created specifically for science museums that was less about the movie and more about the need for space exploration, leading off with John F. Kennedy’s memorable call to go to the moon.
2015 attractions It’s going to be a fun year for movie fans, with extraordinary adventures unfolding on our iconic dome screen. Showtimes, dates, and tickets available at thetech.org/imax. “Humpback Whales” This film whisks audiences away to Alaska, Hawaii, and the Kingdom of Tonga for an immersive look at how these whales communicate, sing, feed, play, and take care of their young. Opened in February. As he did with the last two “Dark Knight” films, director Christopher Nolan shot "Interstellar" on 35mm and 70mm film, an aesthetic choice that stirred excitement among film buffs. Twentythree IMAX prints shipped worldwide behind a strong marketing push from IMAX, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros. to watch the movie in a film-based theater. But only three shipped unassembled to theaters with a chief projectionist with the technical expertise to assemble the longest film ever released in the format. The Tech’s own John Angle was one of the three: He spent three days threading 49 reels of film into a 10.5mile long strip that weighed 650 pounds.
“D-Day: Normandy 1944” The largest Allied operation of World War II began in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. Audiences of all ages can learn how the attack on Nazi-occupied Europe changed the world. Narrated by Tom Brokaw. Opened March 14.
Now that’s a movie. For three months “Interstellar” rocked audiences with a wild cinematic ride that included more than an hour of native IMAX 70mm film scenes. At the end of 2014, The Tech had sold out 36 shows to nearly 20,000 fans, and generated $279,000 in gross box office revenue — so popular that a seven-show extended run went into January. We couldn’t imagine a better finale to 2014 for The Tech’s IMAX team, as we strive every day to inspire the innovator in our guests, open their world to new experiences and ideas, and help them dream big. Michelle Duncan is the manager of The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS
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
WWW.JERUSALEMTHEMOVIE.COM FILMED IN 3D AND 2D FOR IMAX , GIANT SCREEN AND DIGITAL CINEMAS ®
SCAN TO LEARN MORE.
“Jerusalem” Viewers can learn how this tiny region became sacred to three major world religions and why, after millennia, the Holy Land continues to stir the imagination and reverence of billions. Opens March 27.
“Robots” In this sneak peek into the future, scientists use innovative engineering and design to make cyber characters less humanoid and more just plain human. Robot “actor” RoboThespian takes audiences on an amazing tour of robotics labs around the world. Opens fall 2015.
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Building it bigger, better Impact of Tech Challenge deepens with program expansions, new partners
Participants in this year’s Tech Challenge, presented by Cisco, are hard at work tackling a very relevant California issue: “Building Excitement: Seismic Engineering in Action!” The 2015 challenge asks students in grades 4-12 to design and build an earthquake-safe structure. Working in teams, these kids are rolling up their sleeves to practice 21st century skills: problemsolving, teamwork, creative thinking, leadership, risk-taking, perseverance, and learning from failure. Nearly three decades after the original, small Tech Challenge in 1988, the year-round program reaches more than 2,500 students and culminates in April with a thrilling two-day affair that celebrates the innovation and teamwork of all participants. Open, accessible, and affordable, The Tech Challenge serves a diverse group of future innovators: 42 percent are girls and almost 40 percent are lowincome. In addition to expanding to include fourthgraders, other exciting innovations this year have strengthened the program and deepened its ties to the community. New journaling workshops are helping student groups refine their documentation skills, and team workshops have been revamped to better prepare students for their Tech Challenge journeys. The Tech Challenge and Educational Programs teams collaborated to build a hands-on museum 30 | The Tech Museum
experience related to the 2015 challenge, giving visitors young and old a chance to test their seismic-engineering skills. Also new this year: Participants can tell their stories in the first-ever Tech Challenge video contest, sponsored by ARM. The winning videos will be a fun addition to our event in April! A workshop pilot with the San Jose Public Library was launched this summer, inviting kids and their families to build foot-tall earthquake-safe structures. The Tech Challenge has also worked with San Jose Public Library and RAFT (Resource Area for Teachers) to create seismic-engineering kits and provide basic engineering-design training to librarians from San Jose and Sunnyvale Public Libraries. Proof that this partnership is beneficial to all, San Jose Public Library has even developed its own Tech Challenge–related programming around the kits. As we look to the future of this long-standing program, we are heartened by the recognition we’ve received for our past work. In June 2014, The Tech became one of just seven organizations to win a prestigious Bright Lights Award, given by the Noyce Foundation to U.S. science centers, children’s museums, and natural history museums that have done an outstanding job engaging with their communities, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. Wrote the Noyce Foundation about The Tech Challenge: “The program’s success in engaging low-income kids and girls has been remarkable.”
Want to get involved in The Tech Challenge? There are many opportunities, but one of the most fun is to volunteer at the final event on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. Sign up online at www.thetech.org/challenge or email Talance Orme at torme@thetech.org. Hope to see you there!
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Renovated Tech Studio puts the fun in science fundamentals The Tech’s educational offerings are expanding at lightning speed, with programs every day in our new 3,000-square-foot studio. This year we are introducing The Tech Studio 2.0, an expansive space dedicated to design-based learning programs. Hands-on activities were once something visitors could experience only during limited times and days, but our merger of the previous Tech Studio space and Hands-On Science Workshop has changed all that. At the new studio, we invite guests to participate in daily programs and activities, most of which are drop-in and free with museum admission.
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Engineering for Earthquakes: Inspired by this year’s Tech Challenge, this interactive program allows visitors to explore their inner engineers by constructing a model structure and testing it at an earthquake-simulation table. Makerspace programs: From trash-grabbers to paper circuit switches, these open-ended design challenges engage visitors in the design process by using familiar objects in new and creative ways. Open design programs: These programs offer visitors free-form, imaginative, yet tangible constructionist learning experiences using loose objects. Some activities are created in-house and some are from educational kits such as Imagination Playground blocks, Thinker Linkers, Bloom the Game, and ITSPHUN geometric pieces. Hack-a-thons: Weekend-long marathons of design and innovation, hack-a-thons are special events that engage the community in an extended experience. We’ve hosted both kid-focused events (Hack the Future, HacKid) and adult-focused events (Bay Area Makers Startup Weekend, VTA’s Hack My Ride), turning dreamers into doers. Saturday workshops: Our Art + Tech workshops offer in-depth experiences with an emphasis on design thinking. Guests receive personalized, takehome projects on topics like sewing circuits, paper circuits, coding, soldering, and more.
Sunday partner programs: Local and national partners such as MakerEd, Wonder Workshop, Benesse, AgIC, and CodeMonkey showcase new educational products or workshops. Beta Jams, an especially popular program series, provide new and experienced designers the opportunity to prototype their educational or ed-tech products with museum visitors. Special workshop series: Frequent workshop series complement new exhibit openings. These coincide with The Tech’s exhibit calendar; registration and fee required. Social Innovation Workshops: Part of The Tech Awards program, these free quarterly workshops for teens emphasize technology and social issues. Application required. Seasonal initiatives: Throughout the year The Tech joins in various national and global celebrations, including Computer Science Education Week and the Hour of Code (December) and National Engineers Week (February). During the holidays we offer special programming to entertain the whole family, including guest favorites such as Turkeys Take Flight and Flying Fruitcakes, in which participants create a flying machine to launch holiday food into an oven!
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Photo essay: A day at The Tech By Na’im Beyah
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We set out with a camera to capture the wallto-wall exploration, education, and fun that unfold at The Tech every day, for both adults and kids. Every year The Tech hosts more than 130,000 California students from all over the Bay Area – and thanks to our generous donors, this number includes fee-waived admission and labs for around 60,000 students from schools serving low-income families.
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201 South Market Street San Jose, CA 95113