NO DRAPER PRIZE THIS YEAR? - 2010Well. tonight's the big night for the movie industry !I'm an avid movie goer, whether it is going to the movie theatre, renting movies or watching them on cable TV. So tonight I'll be glued to the TV to watch the Academy Awards (tm)But as you should know there is 'THE other "Academy Award". I'm speaking of the DRAPER PRIZE. www.draperprize.orgList of winners: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stark_Draper_PrizeYou won't be hearing much about the DRAPER PRIZE this year, not that you have heard about it in prior years.This year will be different as they will be NO Draper Prize.From what I been able to unearth the presentation of the DRAPER PRIZE has been delayed till 2011.It can't be because there is a lack of candidates of engineers who have change our world?Who can you name ??I can think of a few ...........Like Dean Kamen inventor of the portable Dialysis Machine as the Segway Mobil Transport and founder of www.usfirst.orgHow about Steve Jobs / Steven Wozniak founders of Apple Computer.And getting back to movies there's Dr. Alvy Ray Smith. I just met him several weeks ago. Smith is a two-time Academy Award Winner!Smith has change the way we look at movies for his founding of PIXAR animation.Again who can you name??Could the reason be there is a shortage of funds for the honorarium ?It is sad to think that there will be no Draper Prize this year.....Why aren't we celebrating those individuals who are contributing to the better of mankind and the improvement of the human condition?In recent weeks I / you have probable seen, read articles of the need to create jobs and jump start the economy.Aren't engineers the real wealth creators so why are we honoring them?Sadly what I've been reading is the need to create on new visas to import foreign workers entrepreneurs to help jump-start our economy.[Suggested Reading -- Venture capitalists lobbied Capitol Hill this week to win support for legislation offering two-year visas for immigrant entrepreneurs.Legislation sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the Start-Up Visa Act, would grant immigrant entrepreneurs a two-year visa .......
Don't we have these skilled engineer - entrepreneurs right here in the US? and again why aren't we recognizing their achievements.
For THE OTHER ACADEMY AWARD let me direct you to these piecesTHE NOBEL PROFESSIONEyes on the wrong PrizeShows that Deserve the RED CARPET TREATMENTand let me note one there will be NO NO NO 'DRAPER PRIZE"http://www.draperprize.org/ for 2010.I don't get it.Robert B. Johnson, Engineer - Chicago
SEAOI - Public Relations www.seaoi.org
f.ASCE Past member of Committee on Public Involvement www.isasce.org, www.asce.org
American Engineering Association www.aea.org
American Engineering Alliance www.aeaworld.org
Tau Beta Pi Association www.tbp.org
International Technology Institute
( past member) Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings
American Concrete Institute
past chair of www.chicagolandeweek.org
volunteer to www.futurecitychicago.org
The above does not necessary represent the thoughts, opinions of the many
engineering organization I belong, but cited only as a reference the degree
of involvement in the engineering profession.