Rita Colwell - Rita R. Colwell is an environmental microbiologist and scientific administrator. She became the 11th Director of the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) on August 4, 1998.
In 2004, Dr. Colwell left her position as Director of NSF to become the chief scientist at Canon U.S. Life Sciences, a division of Canon. As of 2008, she was the Chairman of Canon U.S. Life Sciences. She also returned to academic life as a Distinguished Professor at University of Maryland, College Park, as well as at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. In July 2007, Dr. Colwell received the National Medal of Science from United States President George W. Bush. She was the 2008 Leonard Brockington Visitor to Queen's University.
Charles Vest - Charles Vest is a U.S. educator and engineer. He served as President of MIT from 1990 until December, 2004.
On February 6, 2004, he was appointed to the Iraq Intelligence Commission by President George W. Bush. He was later appointed president of the National Academy of Engineering.
At a symposium with the winners of the 2008 Millennium Technology Prize, Dr. Charles Vest, President Emeritus of MIT, gives a talk on the Evolution of Technology.
Dr. Rita Colwell addresses Simple Solutions for Serious Problems - Appropriate Technology for Improving Quality of Life in Developing Countries.