Big Think Interview With Dean Kamen | Big Think

TL;DR

"First founder and president, Dean Cayman, discusses the importance of inspiring kids to pursue science and technology by changing the culture around these fields."

Transcript

I'm Dean Cayman the founder of first and the president of deca research and development well about 18 years ago we started a not for profit called first which is an acronym for inspiration and recognition of Science and Technology the theory at the time and even more so today was that despite popular opinion to the contrary uh most kids really are ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚙 Society's obsession with sports and entertainment as role models hinders kids' interest in science and technology.
• 🧔‍♀️ The portrayal of science and engineering as boring and intimidating deters kids, especially women and minorities, from pursuing these fields.
• 🏑 Changing the culture and perspective around science and technology is key to inspiring kids and increasing their interest in these fields.
• 👶 Persistence and embracing failures are essential in the journey of creating something new.
• 🇨🇷 The increasing cost of healthcare is a result of advancements and a measure of success rather than a crisis.
• ☄️ We should embrace the value and opportunities created by the achievements in healthcare and recognize that it comes with a cost.
• 🚚 Individualized therapies customized for patients will revolutionize healthcare delivery.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why are most kids not interested in science and technology?

According to Dean Cayman, the lack of interest in science and technology stems from a society that idolizes sports and entertainment figures as role models, while also portraying science and engineering as boring and intimidating. This limits the opportunities for kids to see the excitement and rewards in these fields.

Q: How does first aim to address the lack of interest in science and technology?

First takes a different approach than other organizations by focusing on changing the culture and perspective around science and technology. They aim to inspire kids, especially women and minorities, by showing them that these fields are accessible, fun, and rewarding.

Q: How did Dean Cayman come up with the idea for his first invention?

Dean Cayman's first invention was an automatic bed-maker, which he came up with at a young age. He realized that by utilizing pulleys and ropes, he could make the bed quickly and effectively. However, this invention was not successful commercially.

Q: Does Dean Cayman believe that there is a healthcare crisis?

Dean Cayman challenges the notion that there is a healthcare crisis. He believes that the advancements in healthcare and the increasing cost are a measure of success rather than a crisis. He suggests that we should be happy that our society can afford to put more resources into improving the quality of life and healthcare for everyone.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dean Cayman explains that society's obsession with sports and entertainment as role models and the portrayal of science and engineering as boring and intimidating are preventing kids, especially women and minorities, from becoming interested in science and technology.

• Unlike other organizations that focus on the supply side of the education crisis, first aims to change the culture and perspective around science and technology to show kids that these fields are accessible, fun, and rewarding.

• Cayman shares his personal experience as an inventor and highlights the importance of persistence and embracing failures in the journey of creating something new.