posted by Suzanne Fallender on May 22, 2009
Yesterday, Intel hosted the first west coast summit of the Women’s Network for a Sustainable Future at our offices in Santa Clara. The day brought together a mix of women (and a few brave men) from across the spectrum of the sustainability field in Silicon Valley - from business (including Intel, HP, Symantec, Adobe, and Applied Materials) to government to academia - to talk about the potential of clean tech to help businesses reduce their environmental impact and drive economic recovery and to network with other women leaders working on these issues.
The panel included Intel’s own Lorie Wigle, General Manager of our Eco-Tech program office, Bonnie Nixon of HP, Nancy Parmer of UPS, Mary Dent from SVB Financial (a lender for clean tech companies), and Margaret Bruce from The Climate Group. Lorie and Bonnie shared their views on the opportunity for technology companies to help reduce the environmental impact of computing activities (which accounts for about 2% of worldwide emissions according to recent studies). They spoke of the impact and strategic opportunities associated with more energy-efficient processors and products, including significant advances in data center efficiency. More importantly, they talked about the opportunity to drive significant energy reductions (and new market opportunities for tech companies) by addressing “the other 98%” - whether it’s applying technology and new processes to the printing industry, to construction and manufacturing.
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tagged: Clean Tech, Greenbiz, HP, Intel, sustainability, SVB Financial, The Climate Group, Triple Pundit, UPS, WNSF, Women's Network for a Sustainable Future
posted by Michael Jacobson on May 20, 2009
Although I am now just two weeks into my new role as Intel’s Director of Corporate Responsibility, the topic of corporate responsibility is not something new to me. For over twelve years, I have had the privilege of managing Intel’s corporate responsibility programs and philanthropic investments in California and Texas, engaging regularly with a wide range of Intel stakeholders.
In my time at Intel, I have seen firsthand the positive impact that Intel has had in our local communities, donating not just financial resources, but also time, knowledge, and skills. I also gained an appreciation for the complexities of the issues we face as a company, and how our commitment to openness and transparency has helped make us a better company over the years.
That is why I am so pleased for my inaugural blog to be focused on the release of Intel’s 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report: What can we make possible? In the report, we highlight how the same principles that have made our core business a success-a commitment to innovation and investment-have helped us to begin to help tackle global challenges, whether it’s helping to train teachers, volunteering in local organizations or designing more energy-efficient products.
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tagged: citizenship, Corporate Responsibility Report, CSR, G3, Green Power, Intel, Intel Foundation, Intel Teach, sustainability, Volunteerism
posted by Raju Doshi on May 20, 2009
Last week, more than 1500 high school students from around the world gathered in Reno, NV to show off their incredible work at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). For a second year in a row, three young women took the top honors and a $50,000 scholarship from the Intel Foundation.
The Intel ISEF judges have chosen their top winners - now we are inviting you to meet the 19 Intel ISEF best in category winners, learn about their amazing projects and vote for your favorite! Voting starts on May 20th and closes on June 1st. *Vote now *and help the contestants win some cool prizes!
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tagged: Inspire, Intel, Intel Education, Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, Intelisef, science fair
posted by Suzanne Fallender on May 19, 2009
A little over a week ago, in the midst of putting the finishing touches on Intel’s latest Corporate Responsibility Report (which will be available on our web site tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20th), I had the opportunity to participate in an event at the Empire Club of Canada which highlighted the changing landscape of CSR communications.
There is a lot of discussion these days among CSR practitioners about whether we can foresee “the death of the CSR report.” Should we stop producing these long, detailed reports that allegedly no one (or only a relatively small audience reads)? Should we instead find ways to regularly stream information on our CSR activities throughout the year through blogs, Twitter, and other social media channels? Or can the two peacefully coexist and complement each other? (for a good back and forth on this - check out a recent thread on Justmeans.com) What are your thoughts on this?
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tagged: Boyd Neil, CSR, CSR reports, Empire Club, justmeans.com, Peter Aceto, social media, Tom Watson
posted by Ken Kaplan on May 15, 2009
With little time to actually absorb the honor, the three young women winners at the Intel Science and Engineering Fair met with Intel Insider and host of Pop17, Sarah Austin, for a livecast interview in the event hall in Reno, NV.
Tara Adiseshan, 14, of Charlottesville, Va.; Li Boynton, 17, of Houston; and Olivia Schwob, 16, of Boston were selected from 1,563 young scientists from 56 countries, regions and territories for their commitment to innovation and science. Their winning science projects helped them earn a $50,000 scholarship from the Intel Foundation.
Young women science smarts prevailed, sweeping young men for the second year in a row at ISEF. Here are the recorded livecasts by Sarah, who talks with winners about their science projects and scholarship prizes, including a trip to Cern in Sweeden:
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tagged: education, Intel, Intel Insiders, ISEF, ISEF09, Sarah Austin
posted by Rita Holiday on May 13, 2009
This is day three of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, taking place all week in Reno, NV. High School students representing 47 countries come to present their very complex research (some of them have patents pending) and exhibits from biology, to physics, to computing engineering. These students are competing for millions of dollars in college scholarships, and bragging rights
Walking through the exhibits and talking with some of the students I am truly awed by the depth of their passion, knowledge and interest in making the world a better place through innovation.
My one big ah ha moment came when talking with students from Uganda, they asked me what kind of music I liked, (ahem, I am a bit older than these teenagers); and I mentioned a few groups, and they we like them too. I though okay, teens are teens around the world, and their interests are very similar regardless of where they come from.
I am so proud of all of them.
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tagged: education, engineering, ISEF, science
posted by Gail Dundas on May 12, 2009
One of the most passionate advocates for education and its ability to change lives is Intel’s own Chairman of the Board, Craig Barrett. Yesterday we walked around the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in Reno, Nevada, where Craig was rightly feted as the Intel ISEF Rock Star. He literally signed autographs and posed for pictures with dozens of people. After all the lights and cameras, Craig visited students at their projects to get a sampling of the amazing work being done around the world. The students explained their projects as he questioned how they worked, what inspired them to ask the questions that led to their research and, his infamous, “where do you plan to go to college?” The last question is usually a thinly veiled attempt to encourage them to attend Stanford.
One of the students he talked to was Amy David from Pinedale, Wyoming, whose research project studied how the brain is hit when a snow skier lands a jump. Amy is a competitive ski jumper and hopes to go to the Olympics one day. Check out Amy’s video here.
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tagged: Craig Barret, education, inspire, intel, IntelISEF, ISEF
posted by Kiesha Cochrane on May 11, 2009
Today is Day 1 of the Intel International Science Engineering Fair here in Reno NV. There is an incredible array of projects and so much to see on the show floor it's pretty overwhelming!
As I mentioned in an earlier post there are over 1200 projects ranging from healthcare to robotics with lots of inventions and environmental projects in-between. In light of the recent Swine Flu scare, I found some really interesting and timely projects today including Nolen Kamitaki's project called "Programming the Spread of Infectious Diseases within a Partially Stochastic Multiple-City Simulation." (Don't ask me what that means).
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tagged: education, inspire, intel, Intelisef, technology
posted by Raju Doshi on May 10, 2009
I am getting ready to go to Reno for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, totally excited to meet the finalists and learn about the amazing science projects they have been working on. This year, we have 1200+ projects submitted by more than 1500 finalists. We are writting about a few interesting projects on the www.intel.com/education website and here are a couple more that will give you a glimpse into the extraordinary work these high school students are conducting.
Jesse Ellison (Bayfield, Colorado, USA)
As a fan of sci-fi movies such as Star Wars, Jesse Ellison was intrigued by the engines and propulsion systems depicted therein. So when Ellison caught a Discovery Channel documentary on real-world space exploration, he decided to merge fiction with reality. His goal: to design an electric jet propulsion engine capable of future interplanetary travel.
Ellison based his work on a NASA design concept, but made several alterations based on his theories for improved efficiency and feasibility. Specifically, he believed that pre-ionizing the fuel could allow more energy from the magnetic field to be directed into fuel acceleration.
A prototype - assembled in Ellison’s garage, using scavenged parts from old electronics and other discarded items - successfully proved his hypothesis, resulting in improved efficiency of the pulsed inductive thruster.
One day, Ellison hopes to take his design from prototype to reality as an aerospace engineer.
Avilash Cramer (West Linn, Oregon, USA)
In December, 2004, Avilash Cramer accompanied his family on a vacation to the coast of Thailand. The day after the Cramers left the country, a deadly tsunami struck the area, killing more than 225,000 people in 11 countries. Though Cramer and his family escaped injury, many of their friends were not as fortunate. Determined to help in some way, Cramer decided to focus his efforts on developing a device to aid search-and-rescue workers in future disasters.
As a result, Cramer’s research project involved designing and building a prototype for a remotely-operated machine capable of aiding underwater search-and-rescue operations. The idea, explains the young scientist, was to allow rescue personnel to conduct searches remotely - particularly in dangerous situations where the search zone could include choppy, frigid and/or polluted water - thus preserving rescuers’ health and wellbeing.
Cramer’s prototype includes three axes of motion, three sensors (GPS, accelerometer and camera) and two forms of communication (Bluetooth and tether). The device also includes facial recognition programming to help locate humans trapped under water.
Applications could extend beyond search-and-rescue operations to uses in espionage and reconnaissance missions.
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tagged: education, inspire, intel, INTELISEF, ISEF
posted by Kiesha Cochrane on May 07, 2009
Since joining Intel last July I've been involved in some pretty exciting events and programs including IDF, CES 09 and the Esquire House. The events I'm most proud of though are Intel's education programs like the Intel Science Talent Search (STS) and next week's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair!
Both STS and ISEF are science fairs recognizing and rewarding the next generation of scientists, engineers, doctors and inventors. The biggest difference between the two competitions is the scope, STS is 40 finalists from the US while ISEF is 1500+ participants from across the globe!
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tagged: education, inspire, intel, INTELISEF, STS
posted by Suzanne Fallender on May 07, 2009
I’m here in Toronto, getting ready to head over to participate in a panel discussion at the Empire Club of Canada on the topic of corporate social responsibility and the impact that social media is having on CSR communications and reporting. The topic-which didn’t even exist just a few years ago-struck me as just another example of the dramatic changes that are occurring even in the field of CSR because of technology. Changes that, as will be highlighted in our biggest advertising campaign in years, were made possible by Intel silicon.
On Monday, Intel will launch our new Sponsors of Tomorrow campaign, which looks at the role that Intel plays in changing the way we all live and work. Most importantly in my opinion, is that it celebrates the minds and creativity of the people here who make that innovation possible every day. I still remember when I started here at Intel and being taken aback when these engineers would literally walk into me in the hallways/elevators as if they didn’t see me. I imagined that they were busy concentrating on designing the next chip in their heads on the way to get their morning coffee. But really, I am continually amazed and proud by what my co-workers here continue to make possible - a sentiment that is amusingly captured in the new “Intel star” ad that will begin running next week. Take a sneak peak and tell us what you think.
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tagged: corporate social responsibility, CSR, Empire Club, sponsorsoftomorrow, tomorrow
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