Tech Museum of Innovation announces 2005 winners 25 September, 2005 by Alan Thwaits

The annual awards honour individuals, for-profit, public, and not-for-profit organizations who are applying technology to improve the human condition in the areas of environment, economic development, education, equality and health. The laureates come from Brazil, Canada, Cuba, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"The Tech Museum Awards were founded to shine a spotlight on the innovative work of those who dedicate their lives to using technology to help others," said Meredith Taylor, president of the Tech Museum. "By celebrating the accomplishments of our Laureates, we can encourage others to become social entrepreneurs who leverage technology to make the world safer, healthier, and more equitable."

The concept for The Tech Museum Awards and its five categories was inspired in part by The State of the Future report of The Millennium Project of the American Council for the United Nations University, which finds that award recognition is an effective way to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and technological applications to improve the human condition. The Tech Awards were inaugurated in 2001, and have since recognized 100 Laureates for their pioneering work to benefit society through the use and/or development of new technologies.

"The Tech Awards Laureates exhibit the same pioneering spirit that has inspired the world's greatest inventions and innovations," stated Jim Morgan, chairman of presenting sponsor Applied Materials. "Their breakthrough technologies are helping to provide basic needs and infrastructure, and the ultimate promise of their work is its power to have a positive impact on individuals and society."

The awards and laureates include:

The Intel Environment Award, for individuals developing or using technologies that conserve and protect Earth's ecosystems: CTx GreEn, Kitchener, Ontario; Envirofit International, Ltd., Fort Collins, Colorado; Enviro Options (Pty) Ltd., Kya Sands, South Africa; Norman Holy, Better Gear, Yardley, Pennsylvania; and the Reef Ball Foundation, Woodstock, Georgia.

The Accenture Economic Development Award, given to those providing innovative technology solutions to overcome significant barriers to economic development in non-industrial countries: ABT Insulpanel, Richmond Hill, Ontario; BMS, Friars Hill,West Virginia; Malnutrition Matters, Ottawa, Ontario; SELCO Solar Light Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore; and the WorldFish Center, Penang, Malaysia.

The Microsoft Education Award, given to individuals delivering technology applications that remove barriers to education such as computer and Internet access, infrastructure problems, language, and poverty: Gilbert Clark, Telescopes in Education Foundation, Altadena, California; Design that Matters, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts; Fahamu-Networks for Social Justice, Oxford, UK; In2Books, Washington, D.C.; MIT OpenCourseWare, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Agilent Technologies Foundation Health Award, given to those leveraging technology to improve the safety and efficiency of health care in marginalized communities and the rest of the world: Hib Vaccine Team, Cuba/Canada; OraSure Technologies, Inc., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Partners In Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Project Impact, Berkeley, California; Dr. Joshua Silver, University of Oxford, UK.

The Knight Ridder Equality Award, for those using technology to overcome human rights violations and improve the local democratic process: AMD, Sunnyvale, California; AnthroTronix, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland; CEMINA (Communication, Education and Information on Gender), Rio de Janeiro; Centre for the Improvement of Working Conditions & Environment, Lahore; Human Rights In China, New York, NY/Hong Kong.

Silicon Valley leaders supporting The Tech Awards include presenting sponsor Applied Materials, Inc. and Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology, and Society. Category sponsors include Intel, Accenture, Microsoft, Agilent Technologies Foundation, and Knight Ridder.