By KIM BELLARD
I thought about writing about the election, but I’m so worried — and a little scared — about it that I’ll take a pass. I’m intrigued by Oracle Health’s promise of an AI-driven “next generation” EHR, or the news that OpenAI is introducing ChatGPT search, but I feel that each is inevitable, but both will prove to be an unpleasant situation in the short term.
So I decided to write about the invention.
November issue of IEEE Spectrum The magazine is all about discovery, starting with a tantalizing summary Why the Art of Discovery Is Always Reinvented. “Invention does not come from some innate genius, it is not something that only really special people do,” said Stephanie Couch, executive director of the Lemelson MIT Program.
Still, the authors Eliza Strickland and Peter B. Meyer warn, “… the limits of what individuals can achieve have become longer. To solve some of the biggest problems facing humanity today, inventors need government sponsors or large companies to collect equipment and human brainpower required.
Tell that to UTEP student Tayia Oddonetto. While an undergraduate, he had an epiphany. “During the class, the professor said that if someone found a way to turn brine, water with a high concentration of salt, into something valuable, it would be revolutionary for the planet. At that moment, I said that I would be the person who found the solution for brine, and the thought never left me.
And he did. Instead of the more common reverse osmosis (RO) desalination method, which at best turns 85% of salt water into fresh water and leaves behind 15% of the problematic concentrated brine, Ms Oddonetto uses what is called salt-free electrodialysis metathesis. As stated in the press release: “Salt-free electrodialysis metathesis treats brine by passing through an ion exchange membrane, a thin sheet or film, and an electric current that separates salt from water at the molecular level.”
Their approach produces more than 90% fresh water, and produces higher levels of metals and minerals that can be reused in a number of industries including technology, healthcare and food.
“Tayia’s research will help public utilities save money while allowing people nationwide to reduce their utility bills in meaningful ways, furthering community water conservation goals,” said Ivonne Santiago, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at UTEP and currently a doctoral advisor Ms. Odoneto. “In the next few years, I expect that Tayia’s research will be applied on a large scale and we can see the incredible benefits it can bring to humanity. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, the importance of working on challenging problems and the value of a strong work ethic and positive attitude.”
“Receiving an award and funding for my research was very validating. It was a complex and difficult challenge and the journey was full of obstacles and setbacks,” said Ms. Oddonetto. “But I persisted, and being recognized for the value of my work is proof that all the effort and belief in this project was worthwhile.” He is currently working with the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI), El Paso Water, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination plant, New Mexico State University and the US Bureau of Reclamation to refine the process.
Or take a group of four engineering students at the University of Toronto. As profiled by The Wall Street Journalthe four students participated in the anti-drone technology competition (Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems Sandbox 2024).) hosted by the Canadian military, and – against rivals like Boeing and Teledyne – tied for second, winning some $375,000 (Canadian). First place is C$1 million.
Mrs. Poletaev, a materials science student, was drinking coffee with Parth Mahendru, an aerospace engineering student when they discussed the competition. They entered Asad Ishaq, a robotics student, and Michael Acquaviva, an electrical engineering student.
Instead of using flashy approaches like lasers, the team uses sound to take down drones. “Not everything has to be violent or … destructive,” said Anna Poletaev. “(Our technology can make the drone) think it’s 5,000 feet off the ground when it’s actually just a few meters above,” Mr. Mahendru explained.
According to a UT press release, “the system can also disrupt the visual feed for drones that rely on cameras, making navigation nearly impossible. It can reduce visuals to pixels or even disable the camera.
They do all this spending $ 17,000 of one money, usually through a credit card.
The students have founded Prandtl Dynamics because they are trying to commercialize their products, as well as to become more stable (for example, to extend the distance from 100 meters). “We have a different market that doesn’t … conflict with others, just because of new ideas,” Mr. Mahendru said. The team is also actively seeking partnerships and expertise from industry experts.
They have some challenges ahead. As WSJ note: “But funding for early-stage companies is often hard to come by. Globally, only two seed capital investments, totaling $14.2 million, were made in defense startups last year, according to data provider PitchBook. The federal government has spent billions in last year for technology from national security startups, but most US defense spending continues to go to traditional military contractors.
However, Mr. Mahendru insists, “Working for yourself is the most fun.”
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At IEEE Spectrum The problem of invention, the inventor Dean Kamen warned: “Today, when inventions are easier and easier, I think there are some aspects of innovation that are becoming more and more difficult.” He defines innovation as when something reaches the scale to impact or change the world. For software, it’s easy; for physical objects, not so much. They blame competition and the regulatory environment.
If any sector prevents discovery from becoming innovation, it has to be healthcare. Everyone should say “safety patience” and inventors get cold feet. Hoops inventors had to jump through to get FDA approval or be covered by terrible health insurance. Innovators beware.
But I am reminded of people like Susannah Fox, who writes about the Maker movement in health care, where patients and their families refuse to wait for “the system” to solve their problems. Instead, he came up with his own solution. We need more Makers in health care, and we need to help them get to Mr. Kamen’s stage of innovation to change the world — or, in this case, the health care system.
More of us should take the attitude of Ms. Oddonetto: “I said I would be the one to find the solution.”
Kim is a former emarketing executive at the main Blues plan, editor of the late & lamented Tincture.ioand now a regular THCB contributor
