During commencement ceremony last year, Paul Volcker made a thought-provoking observation during the annual honorary degree recipients’ colloquy. The discussion danced through different topics of national concern and interest, including the role of technology as it pertains to natural resources, the ethics and conviction required to restore consumer confidence in business executives, and halting runaway inflation to mention a few. As Volcker offered his insight and personal experience on the issues, he completed the discussion with a question posed to our president. Volcker mentioned that while walking down the hall toward the auditorium in the BioTech Center, he had noticed that he could not pronounce the foreign names that accounted for the vast majority of occupants in the offices of our researchers and doctoral candidates. He pointed out that the role technology and innovation would play in the future of our nation was clearly evident, yet a world-class institution such as Rensselaer had few domestic students in this emerging field. This has been a concern in recent years that President Jackson has championed on a national stage. While the lack of interest in careers in science and technology is certainly alarming, I would like to provide some additional insight to Volcker’s comment.
As Americans, we have worked tirelessly to become the global leader, sending a tidal wave of innovations that continue to change cultures, the ripples of which have pushed new ways of life to every corner of the globe. This has come through the blood and sweat of our forefathers who spanned a continent, with the only thing remaining constant throughout our history being the ability to rise to any national or international challenge that came our way. It is the spirit of rugged individualism and ambition beating in the hearts of every American that has driven our nation to out-produce, out-innovate, and out-will any challenge or threat.
Volcker clearly understood this, and pointed out in a very real manner that we face foreign competition. Yet, there seems to be a lack of response or resolve from a complacent American youth. Talk to any U.S. Embassy official in Bangalore, India, or Beijing, China, and they will tell you: Watch out, there are young men and women that have had a glimpse of how technology can flatten our world and that they are willing to do anything to take part in it. Millions upon millions of young men and women who understand the role of technology in economic growth and development, salivating to not only match our strength, but top it.
Last week, the Chairman and CEO of IBM, Sam Palmisano, came to campus and spoke on the importance of innovation, claiming that this would be the single most important factor determining America’s success in the 21st century. While national leaders such as Palmisano and Jackson begin to raise awareness and garner support across America, we will be the ones on the front lines. We will be leading the firms that will now have to compete against the IBMs and the Intels of China. It is at this young age that we must make a choice, whether to perceive this as a threat and throw up walls and barriers wherever possible, or view the world with the same opportunistic spirit that those in our global community have. I can see the opportunity, but at the same time, I recognize the hard work that it will take to be able to respond, and rise above any challenge presented in our lives.
