Who is Ajay V. Bhatt? Unless you work in a technology field, you more than likely won't have any idea because he is not widely known, though what he invented certainly is.
Bhatt is co-inventor of the Universal Serial Bus or USB, the standard plug and socket for connecting an array of devices to computers. It was created in 1996 at Intel, where Bhatt works. To date, more than six billion USB devices have been sold worldwide. That the USB has made handling electronic data easier is an understatement; it's like saying cell phones have made conversations livelier. The USB is revolutionary, but more important, and to the point of the ad, so are the workers behind the technology.
The amazing things science and technology long promised not only have become reality, but many -- like the USB -- are essential to our daily lives. In Intel's ad, Bhatt has a coffee in hand as he enters a meeting room to applause and cheers as if he was a movie star attending a Hollywood premier.
View the ad on YouTube. Its message is one that college educators have stressed for years to prospective students considering their major course of studies. It showcases the relevance of science, technology, engineering and math -- the STEM fields -- to peoples' lives.
The nation desperately needs skilled professionals in these fields, if the country is to compete with powerful growing economies like China or India. Technology drives the U.S. economy, yet students entering college generally appear not to recognize this fact or that stable, in-demand jobs for the future are in fields that require the skills learned in the study of STEM disciplines.
The scientist and engineer are as critical in the 21st century as the chemist and mechanic were going into the 19th century at the onset of the Industrial Revolution.
Bhatt, an Intel Fellow and Chief Client Architect for the company, has nine U.S. patents with several in various stages of filing, according to Intel. What helps to build a strong economy is invention, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Just consider Thomas Edison, a celebrity in his time, and one of his inventions -- the light bulb. It spawned an enormous industry that created new companies and jobs.
Many economists today believe that one way out of the worldwide recession is through entrepreneurship, which spurs invention. To help rebuild America's economy, and in turn help lead resurgence in global economic vitality, a large pool of workers is needed in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Intel's ad featuring Bhatt uses a sense of humor -- an adoring fan flashes his Ajay T-shirt while others clamor, seeking an autograph. This and other humorous ads promote Intel, but they also address the shortage of college graduates in STEM fields.
For whatever reason, these fields are not as attractive as business and marketing or liberal arts, for which there are a glut of graduates. It is a national issue that states are struggling to address.
Some recent examples include Gov. John Baldacci of Maine directing the state Department of Education to work with the University of Maine to identify new opportunities for high-tech learning in Maine. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick recently announced the creation of a STEM Education Coordinating Council to coordinate all efforts by the executive branch of the commonwealth that are intended to boost student interest and achievement in STEM fields.
The National Governors Association and the Team Pennsylvania Foundation launched the PA STEM Center Initiative to develop and deploy statewide strategies and resources designed to enhance the commonwealth's STEM education and work force development efforts. In Arizona, Tucson teachers can get summer internships at top tech firms such as Raytheon Missile Systems and Texas Instruments so the educators can see firsthand how a STEM education translates into the workplace, and can get kids excited about what learning math and science can mean.
We need to show students the great possibilities that a career as an engineer or a mathematician or a scientist can offer not only to them, but to their country and its future; we need to show them there is greater meaning to these careers than just having a job. It starts with ads like Intel's that show scientists and technologists as the new American Idols.
Dr. Mel Schiavelli is professor of chemistry and president of the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.