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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Ms. Aisha Bowe addressing the gathering at the kick-off of the Bahamas Embassy’s “YOUNG BAHAMIANS CONVERSATION SERIES” Friday night.
TOP RIGHT: Pictured from left to right at the kick-off of the Bahamas Embassy’s “YOUNG BAHAMIANS CONVERSATION SERIES” are Mr. John Martellaro, Co-Founder and COO, STEMBoard LLC; Ms. Aisha Bowe, Co-Founder and CEO, STEMBoard LLC; His Excellency Dr. Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States; and Mr. Robert Gordon III, Chairman of the Board, STEMBoard and President of Be the Change.
BOTTOM LEFT: From left to right Mr. Deon Jones, Special Projects Assistant to the President, Be The Change; Dr. Brian Kent, President and CEO, K3 Enterprises; Ms. Aisha Bowe, Co-Founder and CEO, STEMBoard LLC; Mr. John Martellaro, Co-Founder and COO, STEMBoard LLC; and Mr. Robert Gordon III, Chairman of the Board, STEMBoard and President of Be the Change.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Mr. Chet Neymour, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Bahamas Embassy, delivering brief remarks prior to the introduction of Ms. Aisha Bowe by Mr. Mikhail Bullard (centre), Third Secretary, Bahamas Embassy. Ms. Bowe is seated at left.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ms. Aisha Bowe, a 29-year-old Bahamian aerospace engineer, who has worked as a researcher at the NASA Ames Research Center and currently is CEO and Founder of STEMBoard, kicked off the Bahamas Embassy’s “Young Bahamians Conversation Series” with an impressive presentation on her area of expertise in the board room of the Bahamas Embassy, 2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., on Friday night, June 12, 2015.
The event, held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, was a new Embassy-sponsored initiative aimed at providing a forum for young Bahamians in the diaspora in the Washington, D.C. area “to present and dialogue on their research or work and cultivate ideas for the betterment of The Bahamas.” It was initially scheduled to be in the courtyard of the Embassy, but was moved indoors because of sporadic light rainfall. Following is the text of Ms. Bowe’s presentation, which was followed by a lively question-and-answer session:
TOPIC: ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATON THROUGH TECHNOLOGY INFUSON: THE POWER OF STEM EDUCATION
My home for the past 7 years is a place brimming with innovation, growth and excitement, but in my opinion it has absolutely nothing on the natural beauty and possibility that lies within New Providence, Grand Bahamas and the wider Family Islands.
Silicon Valley is home to the world's largest high-tech corporations, as well as thousands of startup companies.
But in the race to be the latest and the greatest, people often forget that a big part of Silicon Valley’s success is due to the defense industry. NASA Ames Research Center, an innovator in the defense and private industry has been in the valley for over 75 years. It also happens to be the place where I started my career. As an aerospace engineer at Ames, I’ve built miniaturized spacecraft, developed algorithms to make commercial aviation more efficient and worked on integrating drones into the U.S Airspace.
The most well-known companies in the defense industry: Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Hewlett Packard were actually the earliest tenants of the area that is today known as Silicon Valley. It’s the defense industry that created Silicon Valley.
I want to give you a quick history lesson: With the onset of the Cold War, the U.S Department of Defense poured money into developing technology at the Nation’s leading educational institutions. And to no one’s surprise, Stanford University was on the list. What was a surprise was how they choose to use the money- they funded research and the business ventures that created the Silicon Valley of today.
And while the Venture Capitalists in Silicon Valley would be reluctant to admit it, defense is still a driving factor in innovation in the Valley. In-Q-Tel was a $30 million experiment spearheaded by women in the CIA. They made early investments into big-data companies such as Cloudera, now worth $4 billion and Palantir, which at $15 billion is one of the valley's most valuable companies.
The Government’s early investment in technology is working. San Jose, California now ranks third in the world in per-capita gross domestic product (GDP).
One last fact. One that I am personally interested in. The average age of the founders of VC-backed companies valued at $1 billion or more is just over 31years old. Good thing I’ve still got one year left.
The government, not venture capital, has funded the majority of technology that we use today.
Here’s an example: You know the Google Search Engine that we all use? Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, both Stanford Grads. Their graduate research was funded by DARPA and NASA. Today’s Valuation? $367.6 Billion dollars in market cap heaven. Do you see the pattern?
With a population of approximately ½ million and a GDP of 11.4 Billion, the Bahamas are currently dependent on tourism and offshore banking.
Ultimately, it is the government’s ability to promote more broad-based reforms that will determine the prospects for a long-term and diversified economic expansion. I want to look at the three variables of the equation: Technology, Education and Government funding.
Now I remember when I was younger, my father, who grew up in Nassau would always tell me that his father said that you work for someone else for five years, make mistakes on their dime then you work for yourself and leverage your knowledge to make the Bahamas a better place.
And that’s why we’re here. When I left NASA, I did so with the deliberate intention of creating a technology company that would make not only the US, but the world a better place. My goal was and is to empower minorities to build technologies that change their environments.
When the Bahamian government invests strategically in defense technology they are catalyzing innovation, economic diversification and education.
There are a number of technologies that are excellent for sound near-term investments. For the purpose of this conversation, I’m going to focus on 3: drones, telcom, and a Common Operating Picture. All of which, STEMBoard and our partners are actively working to enable in the Bahamas.
And what’s even better is that the dual purpose-also serve as educational platforms.
Affectionately given the nickname “drones”, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are a versatile platform that can deliver a wide range of capabilities. These devices are assisting farmers, capturing news video, and providing disaster relief.
Along with the drones come new jobs by 2025, 100,000 new jobs are expected. And, in order to provide a trained workforce capable of meeting this demand, U.S schools are offering drone concentrations. *now i can’t think of a better place to get a concentration in drones then on Cable beach as a program at the College of the Bahamas.
My second example is a Common Operational Picture. Leveraging the drone platform, results in increased situational awareness. A common operational picture (COP) is a single display of relevant information. For example, Dominican poachers off the coast of Nassau, civil aviation tracks and the position and status of important infrastructure such as bridges, roads.
A COP facilitates collaborative planning and assists to achieving situational awareness
And lastly, Video Teleconferencing. Who doesn’t love that ? We’ve all experienced extended periods of time when our comm has been down while on Island. Our capability can be provide reliable, cost effective communication from Nassau to Inagua.
What’s even better? These tech platforms can be leveraged for education.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics also known as STEM education is one of the most powerful tools that we have. It creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators.
The tourism industry can be leveraged to bring in subject matter experts to teach the classes that they love-cybersecurity and engineering
One of the highlights of my career is the technology camps we host. Last year in Nassau STEMBoard helped teach nearly 100 students in 6-8th grade engineering for 5 days at no cost. This year our camp, will give students in grades 9-12 a chance to work with and learn from an internationally recognized team of STEM educators and technologists. We’re especially excited to bring in Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., the first African-American Astronaut to walk in space will be this year’s keynote speaker.
An influx of different technology is a powerful tool by which to diversify the economy. If we do this, we are equipping the future generations with the necessary skills. I am honored to be able create these opportunities and hope you will join me in investing in the future of the Bahamian people.
Good evening and God Bless.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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