R. Keith Sawyer, professor of Psychology and Education at Washington University and Robert Galvin, founder of the Galvin Electricity Initiative and retired CEO and Chairman of Motorola offered some provocative ideas at one of several symposia celebrating the installation of UNM President David Schmidly.
The overall theme of the symposium was “Educating for Innovation: Connecting UNM to the World’s Challenges.” Sawyer challenged the audience to consider the idea that innovation today is always collaborative. He said the key task for educators is to prepare learners to participate creatively in today’s knowledge economy.
Students need a deep understanding of complex concepts, an ability to work in teams, and ability to manipulate concepts creatively, and an integrated and contextualized knowledge. Sawyer’s speech was followed by a panel discussion with local leaders from academia, the national labs and the private sector.
Afternoon keynote speaker Robert Galvin made the point that Albuquerque could be the epitome of a leadership community if it seriously undertakes to find the answers to three basic challenges. The challenges are things Galvin believes the U.S. must accomplish in order to progress.
1. How do we make an electric power system that never fails?
2. How can we eliminate traffic congestion?
3. How can we draw up scientific roadmaps we can use to explore the fundamental challenges that must be solved?
Galvin believes so strongly in the first idea that he has founded the Galvin Electricity Initiative as an online discussion of ways to make homes and businesses more efficient and to exchange ideas about improving the national’s electrical infrastructure. More information can be found at http://www.galvinpower.org/.
He told the symposium audience that traffic congestion will be the critical element that determines which cities of the future will thrive. He believes that any city that hasn’t solved its congestion problems by 2050 will be dying.
Galvin also challenged students to write new science roadmaps. He says science is more productive and efficient if researchers have some overall goal in mind as they conduct their research.
Galvin’s speech was followed by a panel of New Mexico industry leaders who are engaged in innovation and energy solutions, including PNM Resources Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Sterba. One of its subsidiaries, the Public Service Company of New Mexico provides electricity to a major part of the state.
Sterba told the group that energy challenges are very complex and that the electrical industry is particular is ripe for innovation. He said the demand for electrical service is expected to increase by 40 percent over the next 25 years, and that the industry will put 900 billion dollars into building infrastructure during that time, not counting the unknown cost of dealing with climate change.
Sterba says one of the biggest changes needed for his industry is an alternative business model. He says currently electric companies make money when they build new power plants and find customers to buy the electricity they generate. There is little financial incentive for electrical companies to encourage conservation or efficiency for homes or businesses.
The symposium was one of six meant to challenge faculty, staff and students to pause and talk about the big questions facing the university and the nation during the next few decades. It was sponsored by the UNM School of Engineering the Anderson School of Management, the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Mesa del Sol, Albuquerque Economic Development and STC.UNM.