2016 Vannevar Bush Winner Champions Academic Inclusion

The speaker shares their journey from a challenging background to becoming a recognized figure in academia. They emphasize the importance of pursuing social justice through research and teaching, particularly in addressing racial inequality. The speaker highlights how unconventional backgrounds can lead to revolutionary scientific advances. They recount their personal educational challenges and the pivotal role a teacher played in guiding them towards university. The speaker reflects on the true value of awards, focusing on the company of fellow awardees and their contributions to science and policy.

What motivated the speaker to pursue a career in academia?

• Financial incentives

• Family tradition

• Desire to become a chancellor

• Interest in social justice and research

According to the speaker, what is often necessary to conduct truly creative research?

• Advanced technology

• A conventional background

• A large research team

• An unconventional background

What was the significant advice given to the speaker by their high school teacher?

• To start working immediately

• To follow their siblings' path

• To pursue a career in sports

• To consider university education

What does the speaker consider the most valuable aspect of receiving an award?

• The publicity it brings

• The company of fellow awardees

• The trophy design

• The amount of cash prize

Where did the speaker spend 25 years of their career?

• Stanford University

• Harvard University

• MIT

• Caltech