Greatest Innovators Of the Century (So Far)
Architecture: Shigeru Ban
Most people probably wouldn’t expect an award-winning architect to work with paper and cardboard, but that is precisely what makes Shigeru Ban an innovator. While Ban has built museums, pavilions, and other large buildings from these unusual materials, he originally chose them for a different reason: he wanted to help refugees and victims of disasters. Cardboard and paper are cheap, biodegradable, and easy for even amateurs to assemble. Ban’s amazing accomplishment was turning such apparently flimsy components into sturdy, comfortable dwellings. He won the highest honor of modern architecture, the Pritzker Prize, in 2014--for the beauty of his work, his revolutionary use of natural materials, and his contribution to humanitarian aid.
Business: Jeff Bezos
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When Jeff Bezos began working on Amazon.com in his garage, online shopping was practically unknown. At first, the website only sold books. Now, it sells not only a wide variety of media, but all kinds of products from across the globe, and it is the largest, most lucrative internet company in operation. We may be seeing more innovations from Jeff Bezos soon: last February, he decided to step down as CEO of Amazon in order to pursue his lifelong dream of developing safe, affordable space travel. In a rocket built by Blue Origin, a company Bezos started in 2000, he successfully launched into orbit and returned.
Contemporary Art: Ai Weiwei
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Many artists explore different media, but Ai Weiwei has a uniquely wide-ranging portfolio. For instance, some of his most famous pieces consist of a giant bird’s nest building, which housed the Beijing Olympics; a film of himself smashing an extremely valuable Han Dynasty urn; and porcelain sunflower seeds, created by thousands of different artisans, scattered across a museum floor. Although he grew up in China and often employs Chinese methods in his work, Ai is a political dissident who has been exiled for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government. In the Western world, he is as famed for his revolutionary acts as for his art--especially since his work is often informed by his political views.
Engineering: Tiera Guinn Fletcher
Tiera Guinn Fletcher set her heart on becoming an aerospace engineer at eleven--and does not seem to have stopped working on her dream since! While studying aeronautics at MIT, Fletcher was also designing for Boeing. After graduation, she was chosen to work with NASA on the Space Launch System, a project intended to bring humans to Mars. She is currently the youngest member of the Engine Section Task Leading team, which designs and analyzes the top section of the rocket. When she is not doing engineering work, Fletcher serves as a mentor and advocate for other young women of color pursuing careers in math and science.
Entrepreneurism: Elon Musk
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When he was a child, Elon Musk’s parents worried there might be something wrong with his hearing--as it turned out, he was just lost in daydreams about things he wanted to invent. Musk was fascinated by computers and taught himself coding at a young age. His first creations included Zip2, an online city guide, and X.com, which eventually became PayPal. But computers weren’t the only machines that interested Musk. His company SpaceX helped NASA transport cargo to the International Space Station, and as CEO of Tesla, he has managed production of several types of electric cars. Musk isn’t done inventing yet. Someday, he wants to create the Hyperloop, a super-fast pod transported through tunnels and powered by renewable energy.
Music: Kelly Snook
Looking at Kelly Snook’s scientific accolades, you might not immediately guess that she was a great innovator in music. She has a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and worked with NASA as a scientific researcher on methods of human extraterrestrial exploration. However, Snook’s fascination with space and technology is exactly what led to her amazing musical accomplishments. She was one of the creators of Mi.Mu Gloves, which sense slight movements of a person’s hands and wrists to control musical expression--Ariana Grande used them during her 2015 tour. Currently, Snook is working on a project called Concordia, an immersive musical experience enabling people of various backgrounds and abilities to engage and compose with the Music of the Spheres.
Science: John Craig Venter
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Geneticist J. Craig Venter (as he prefers to be called) has explored not only the mechanics of DNA, but the powerful possibilities and ethical issues inspired by genomic research. Venter developed a revolutionary method for rapid gene sequencing, and his company, Celera Genomics, helped to map the human genome for the first time. Venter has worked on developing sustainable biofuel, identifying genes associated with health issues, and extending human longevity. Perhaps his most remarkable accomplishment is the creation of a single-celled organism, with laboratory DNA, that is self-replicating--in other words, synthetic life. 2020 Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna is taking up the mantle of genomic research, using technology she developed to edit DNA. This work could cure and prevent fatal diseases by controlling genetic mutation.
Sustainability: Wangari Muta Maathai
Born in a rural part of Kenya, Wangari Muta Maathai was the first woman from her region of Africa to earn a doctoral degree. Maathai was an author and educator, best known for her activism: she created organizations promoting conservation and equality, served in African political office, and addressed the UN several times. As a woman, Maathai was often treated unjustly by courts, employers, and political leaders, but she persevered--even when threatened with assassination. Maathai advocated environmental sustainability not only to preserve Earth’s resources, but as a way to reduce poverty and strife among people. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her efforts, and is laid to rest at the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies.
Technology: Steve Jobs
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If one person can be credited with directing the technology of an entire nation, it’s Steve Jobs. In 1976, Jobs and a friend founded Apple in his garage. They wanted to make computers smaller, cheaper, and more accessible--and they did. Apple achieved great success, and other tech companies scrambled to catch up. Jobs was phased out for a while, so he went and revolutionized CGI film technology with Pixar Animation Studios. When he returned to Apple in the late 90s, the company experienced an amazing revitalization, producing some of its most impressive technology yet: the iMac, the iPod, and the iPhone, most of which are still widely used. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe Jobs passed away ten years ago.