Tech Awards

I am please to share that this year’s James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, presented by Applied Materials, will recognize Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan for her leadership and efforts in protecting human rights around the world.

The Award, inspired by Applied Materials Chairman Emeritus, Jim Morgan, honors individuals whose broad vision and leadership are helping to address humanity's greatest challenges. The presentation will be made at the Tech Awards in Santa Clara, CA on November 6, 2010.

Watch the announcement featuring Queen Rania.

It would be tough duty to be a judge for the Tech Awards, the annual global technology competition sponsored by Applied Materials. Every one of the laureates, as they call the amazing group of finalists each year, made it through a rigorous judging and application process, lead by Santa Clara University, to the final awards gala in San Jose, California. Every one of them is worthy of an award.

People like Howard Weinstein, who turn personal tragedy into triumphant accomplishments, inspire me. The Ashoka-Lemelson fellow and 2009 Tech Award laureate was a successful Canadian business executive until his 10-year-old daughter suddenly died from an aneurysm.

Across the globe, lack of access to electricity creates a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break. According to the International Energy Agency, 1.6 billion people are without access to electricity in the world – mostly in poor, rural areas.

Electricity is a luxury in rural Bangladesh. More than 80% of the country’s rural population is off the grid, and light — from hazardous kerosene lanterns — is a precious and expensive resource.

During the rainy season — which seems to get longer each year — local farmers struggle to keep farms intact as melting glaciers in the Himalayas and unusually heavy rains cause rivers to flood and sea levels to rise to unprecedented levels. In such conditions, day-to-day activities become a struggle.