It’s that time of year again when we look at the young minds who are really making waves. This list, “35 Innovators Under 35,” is all about spotlighting the folks who are not just working on cool stuff but are actively shaping what comes next. We’re talking about people in fields from AI to climate tech, robotics, and beyond. They’re tackling big problems and coming up with fresh ideas. It’s pretty inspiring to see what this generation is up to, and honestly, it gives you a good hint about where technology and science are headed.
Key Takeaways
- The “35 Innovators Under 35” list highlights young people driving future technology and science.
- Innovators are working across diverse fields like AI, climate solutions, biotech, and robotics.
- Many honorees are focused on practical applications, such as safer batteries and disease detection.
- The list recognizes individuals making significant contributions through research and entrepreneurship.
- These young innovators are seen as key figures in addressing global challenges and shaping the future.
1. Sharon Li
Sharon Li is making waves in the world of artificial intelligence, and honestly, it’s about time we paid more attention to AI safety. She’s an Associate Professor in Computer Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, and her work is focused on making sure AI systems don’t just go haywire when they bump into something new. You know, like when your GPS suddenly decides you need to drive through a lake? Yeah, something like that, but way more serious.
Li’s research is all about preventing AI models from failing in unpredictable ways when they encounter unfamiliar situations. Think about it: AI is getting integrated into everything, from our cars to our medical devices. If these systems can’t handle unexpected inputs gracefully, the consequences could be pretty bad. She’s developing methods to make AI more robust, so it can handle novel scenarios without completely falling apart. It’s a pretty big deal for the future of AI safety.
Her work isn’t just theoretical, either. It has real-world implications for how we can trust and deploy AI more widely. The goal is to build AI that’s not only powerful but also reliable and safe, especially when it’s operating outside its usual training data. It’s a complex problem, but someone’s got to tackle it, right? And Sharon Li is definitely one of the people leading the charge.
2. Mireille Kamariza
Mireille Kamariza is working on a really big problem: tuberculosis. It’s a disease that still affects millions of people every year, and finding out if someone has it, and if it’s resistant to drugs, can take a long time. Kamariza developed a new test that can find the TB bacteria much faster, sometimes in less than an hour.
What’s neat about this test is that it uses a special dye. This dye lights up when it finds the live tuberculosis bacteria. Even better, it can also tell if the bacteria are already resistant to common medicines. This could change how doctors diagnose TB, especially in places where quick testing is hard to get.
She even started a company called OliLux Biosciences to help get this technology out there. The idea is that this kind of testing could eventually be used for other diseases too, not just TB. It’s pretty amazing to think about how one person’s work could help so many people around the world.
3. Chibueze Amanchukwu
Chibueze Amanchukwu is working on making batteries, the kind that power our phones and electric cars, a lot safer. He developed a new liquid electrolyte that doesn’t use those flammable solvents that can cause fires. This new stuff works even when it gets pretty warm, up to 45°C, which is a big deal for electric vehicles and storing energy for the power grid.
Think about it: batteries are everywhere, and safety is always a concern. Amanchukwu’s work could mean fewer battery fires and more reliable energy storage. It’s a pretty big step forward for battery technology.
His research focuses on:
- Developing safer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries.
- Improving battery performance in warmer conditions.
- Making energy storage solutions more reliable and secure.
This breakthrough has the potential to really change how we think about battery safety and how well they work, especially for things like electric cars and large-scale energy storage.
4. Andee Wallace
Andee Wallace is working on a pretty neat way to protect crops. Instead of spraying chemicals that can be rough on the environment, she’s using tiny living things – engineered microbes – to do the job. Her company, Robigo, uses a technology called CRISPR to specifically target bad bacteria that harm plants like tomatoes. It’s like having a super-precise cleanup crew for your farm.
Think about it: traditional pesticides can sometimes harm helpful insects or end up in our water. Wallace’s approach aims to be much gentler. Early on, they saw some really promising results. In tests, these microbes helped reduce crop disease symptoms by a lot, and the plants even grew taller. It’s a smart way to keep our food healthy without messing up the planet too much.
Here’s a quick look at what Robigo’s approach offers:
- Targeted Pest Control: Focuses only on the harmful bacteria, leaving beneficial organisms alone.
- Environmental Friendliness: Reduces the need for chemical pesticides, which can have wider environmental impacts.
- Improved Crop Health: Leads to healthier plants and potentially better yields.
Wallace’s work shows how we can use biology itself to solve agricultural problems, making farming safer and more sustainable. It’s a big step towards a future where we grow food more in tune with nature.
5. Alejandro Aguilera Castrejón
Alejandro Aguilera Castrejón is doing some really interesting work in developmental biology. He’s originally from Mexico City and got hooked on how tiny biological things work during his university days. Back in 2021, while he was in Israel, he managed to grow mouse embryos outside of a mother’s body. That was a pretty big deal.
Now, he’s running his own lab at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His setup, which some might call a "mechanical womb," is a new way to watch how a fetus develops. This research could eventually help us understand more about human development and maybe even grow tissues for medical use down the line.
It’s kind of wild to think about, but this kind of work could change how we approach certain medical challenges. The ability to study development in such a controlled environment opens up a lot of possibilities. It’s a complex field, but Alejandro’s approach seems to be making real progress. You can read more about similar research into growing embryos using advanced printing techniques here.
6. Leopold Green
Leopold Green is working on something pretty neat over at Purdue University. He’s a synthetic biologist, which sounds complicated, but basically, he’s engineering tiny biological machines. His focus? Creating DNA nanotubes. Think of them as microscopic delivery systems.
These aren’t just for show. Green’s vision is to use these DNA nanotubes to tackle chronic diseases. The idea is to engineer microbes, like E. coli, to produce specific proteins. These proteins can then influence our immune system. The goal is to create targeted therapies for conditions that are tough to treat, like eczema and other immune-related issues.
It’s a really innovative approach to medicine. Instead of broad treatments, these nanotubes could deliver medicine exactly where it’s needed. This could mean fewer side effects and more effective treatments for people suffering from long-term illnesses. It’s a complex field, but the potential impact is huge. You can read more about other innovators in this space, like Fabian Menges, who was also recognized by MIT Technology Review for his groundbreaking work.
Here’s a simplified look at how it might work:
- Microbe Engineering: Scientists modify microbes to produce specific proteins.
- Nanotube Formation: These proteins assemble into DNA nanotubes.
- Therapeutic Delivery: The nanotubes carry and release therapeutic agents to target areas in the body.
- Immune Modulation: The delivered agents interact with the immune system to treat disease.
7. Hao Chen
Hao Chen is really making waves in the world of solar energy, specifically with perovskite solar cells. You know, those newer types of solar cells that promise to be more efficient and maybe even cheaper to make? Well, Chen’s work is all about making them actually work well and last a long time.
He’s been tackling some big problems that have held perovskite tech back. Think about things like making sure the materials don’t break down too quickly or figuring out how to get the most power out of them. Chen’s approach involves tweaking the very edges of the cells and changing up the mix of materials. It sounds technical, but the results are pretty impressive. He’s managed to boost the efficiency of these cells significantly, which is a huge step towards getting them out of the lab and into the real world. His research is instrumental in shaping the future of decentralized systems and verifiable artificial intelligence.
Here’s a quick look at some of his achievements:
- 2022: Published work in Nature Photonics showing a new way to make perovskite devices, pushing certified efficiency from 22.3% to 23.9%.
- 2022: Another Nature paper reported a big win in reducing energy loss in wide-bandgap perovskite cells, leading to a 26.3% certified efficiency for an all-perovskite tandem cell.
- 2024: Developed a new method that resulted in a record 26.15% efficiency for a single-junction perovskite device, even beating traditional types.
It’s not just about the numbers, though. Chen is driven by a desire to find clean energy solutions that can help our planet. He believes that new technologies are key to a better future and that working together across different fields and countries is the way to get there. He’s been recognized by MIT Technology Review’s "Innovators Under 35" list, which is a pretty big deal.
8. Yatish Turakhia
Yatish Turakhia is making waves in the computing world, particularly with his work on tracking how diseases spread and evolve. Think about the COVID-19 pandemic – it was a crazy time, and figuring out which variants were popping up and how fast they were moving was a huge challenge. Turakhia developed software tools that helped scientists do just that during the pandemic. He basically created a way to watch new COVID variants emerge and track their lineage.
Now, he’s taking that same smart approach and applying it to other diseases. It’s like having a super-powered detective for public health. By understanding how diseases change, we can get better at predicting outbreaks and developing the right treatments or vaccines. It’s a pretty big deal for keeping us all safer.
His work highlights how powerful computational tools can be when used for good. It’s not just about crunching numbers; it’s about using that data to make real-world differences in health. This kind of innovation is exactly what we need to stay ahead of future health crises.
9. Young Suk Jo
Young Suk Jo is tackling a big problem: how to make big vehicles, like trucks and ships, less of a burden on the environment. He cofounded a company called Amogy, and their idea is pretty neat. They’re working on a way to use a common fertilizer ingredient to power these massive machines. Think about it – instead of relying on traditional fuels that contribute to pollution, we could potentially use something derived from ammonia. It’s a clever approach to decarbonizing a sector that’s notoriously hard to clean up. The goal is to make these heavy-duty transport systems run cleaner, which could make a real difference in our fight against climate change. It’s not just about tweaking existing tech; it’s about finding new pathways to power the things that move our world.
10. Lerrel Pinto
Lerrel Pinto is tackling the tricky business of making robots useful around the house. You know, the kind of robots that can actually help out, not just look cool. His big idea? Robots need to learn from their screw-ups. It sounds simple, but getting a robot to understand it messed up and then figure out how to do better is a huge challenge.
Pinto’s work focuses on making robots more adaptable. Think about it:
- Teaching robots to learn from errors: This is key to making them more reliable.
- Developing better ways for robots to interact with the world: They need to sense and react.
- Creating robots that can perform everyday tasks: Like tidying up or helping with chores.
He believes that by letting robots fail and learn, we can build machines that are truly helpful in our daily lives. It’s a different approach than just programming them with a set of instructions. It’s more about giving them the ability to figure things out on their own, which is pretty neat when you think about it.
11. Julia Joung
Ever wonder how a single cell decides to become a muscle cell, or a nerve cell, or something else entirely? It’s a complex process, and Julia Joung is working to map it out. She’s developed what’s essentially an "atlas" that lets scientists get a really close look at how specific proteins influence cell development. Think of it like a detailed blueprint for how cells build themselves.
This kind of work is super important for understanding a whole bunch of things, from how we develop as humans to what goes wrong in diseases. By seeing which proteins are doing what, researchers can start to figure out how to nudge cells in the right direction, maybe to repair damaged tissue or even to stop diseases from progressing. It’s a bit like understanding the individual ingredients and steps in a recipe to figure out how to make a better dish.
Joung’s approach helps break down the massive complexity of cell biology into more manageable pieces. It’s not just about looking at one protein, but understanding how they work together to shape different cell types. This detailed view could really speed up discoveries in medicine and biotechnology.
12. Pieter Abbeel
Pieter Abbeel is a name that comes up a lot when you talk about the cutting edge of robotics and artificial intelligence. He’s a professor at UC Berkeley, but he’s also cofounded a company called Covariant, which is all about making AI work in the real world, especially in logistics and manufacturing. You might also know him from his podcast, "The Robot Brains," where he chats with other leaders in the field.
Abbeel’s work often focuses on how robots can learn to do complex tasks. Instead of programming every single move, he’s interested in teaching robots to figure things out on their own, kind of like how humans learn. This involves a lot of work with reinforcement learning, where robots try things, get feedback, and get better over time. It’s a really different way of thinking about building intelligent machines.
One of the big challenges in robotics is making sure robots can handle unexpected situations. Abbeel’s research often tackles this by developing methods that allow robots to adapt. He’s also been involved in creating AI systems that can perform intricate tasks, like manipulating objects with great precision. This kind of learning is key for robots to be truly useful in places like warehouses or even in our homes someday. His approach to AI development is really about building systems that can generalize and apply what they learn to new problems, which is a huge step forward for robotics research.
13. Aadeel Akhtar
Aadeel Akhtar is really shaking things up in the world of prosthetics and robotics. He’s the founder and CEO of PSYONIC, a company that’s developing some pretty advanced bionic limbs. What’s cool about his approach is how he’s looking at resilience, not just for people with limb differences, but also thinking about how technology can help everyone bounce back from challenges.
Akhtar’s work isn’t just about creating artificial limbs; it’s about restoring function and improving quality of life. He’s focused on making these devices more intuitive and responsive, almost like a natural extension of the body. This involves a lot of intricate engineering and a deep dive into how the human body and mind interact with technology.
He’s also exploring how these bionic systems can be used in different environments, even pushing the boundaries in athletic applications. It’s fascinating to see how sports technology is evolving, and Akhtar is definitely at the forefront of that movement. His vision is to create devices that don’t just replace what’s lost but actually enhance capabilities, opening up new possibilities for users.
Here are some key aspects of his work:
- Advanced Prosthetics: Developing bionic limbs that offer greater dexterity and control.
- Resilience Focus: Integrating technology to help users adapt and overcome physical challenges.
- Intuitive Design: Aiming for seamless integration between the user and the device.
- Broader Applications: Exploring uses beyond traditional prosthetics, including athletic performance.
14. Animashree Anandkumar
Animashree Anandkumar is really making waves in the world of artificial intelligence. She’s a Bren Professor at Caltech and also directs AI research over at Nvidia. It’s pretty impressive stuff, honestly.
Her work often focuses on how AI can be used for things like scientific discovery and making complex systems more efficient. Think about it – AI that can help us figure out new materials or optimize energy grids. That’s the kind of big picture thinking she’s involved in. She’s been recognized for her contributions, including awards like the ACM SIGEnergy Doctoral Dissertation Award, which shows she’s been a standout in the field for a while now.
Anandkumar is part of a larger trend of Indian innovators pushing the boundaries in AI. It’s not just about creating smarter algorithms; it’s about applying that intelligence to solve real-world problems. Her role at Nvidia, a company at the forefront of computing hardware, likely means she’s working on the very foundations of future AI advancements. It’s exciting to see where her research leads next.
15. Tara Bansal
Tara Bansal is making waves in the world of sustainable energy. As an investor at Breakthrough Energy Ventures, she’s not just putting money into new ideas; she’s actively helping shape the future of how we power our planet. Think of her as a scout, finding the most promising technologies that can help us move away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner options.
Her work involves looking at a lot of different companies and projects. It’s a big job, trying to figure out which ones have the real potential to make a difference. It’s not just about the science, either. She has to consider if the technology can actually be built and used on a large scale, and if it makes economic sense.
Here’s a glimpse into what that might involve:
- Identifying promising clean energy startups: This could be anything from new battery storage solutions to advanced solar panel designs.
- Evaluating the technology’s readiness: Is it a lab concept, or is it close to being a real product?
- Assessing market potential: Who needs this technology, and can it compete with existing solutions?
- Supporting growth: Once an investment is made, Bansal likely works with the company to help them grow and succeed.
Bansal’s focus is on backing the innovations that will help us tackle climate change. It’s a challenging but incredibly important role, and her insights are helping to guide where significant resources are directed in the fight for a more sustainable future.
16. David Berry
David Berry is a busy guy, really. He’s the CEO over at Valo Health, which is a pretty big deal in the health tech world. But that’s not all; he’s also a General Partner at Flagship Pioneering. That means he’s involved in spotting and growing new companies, especially in the science and tech space.
Think about it: one person helping to lead a company that’s trying to make healthcare better, and at the same time, investing in the next big ideas that could change things down the road. It’s a lot to juggle, but it seems like Berry is up for the challenge.
His work at Valo Health likely involves figuring out how to use technology to improve how we diagnose and treat diseases. This could mean anything from using AI to analyze medical images to developing new ways to deliver drugs.
Then, as a partner at Flagship, he’s probably looking at a wide range of scientific breakthroughs. Flagship is known for backing companies that are really pushing the boundaries, so he’s likely seeing some pretty wild and innovative stuff before anyone else. It’s a role that requires a sharp eye for potential and a good understanding of how to turn a scientific idea into a real business.
It’s this combination of running a company and investing in others that makes people like Berry stand out. He’s not just thinking about one company’s future; he’s thinking about the future of innovation itself.
17. Ed Boyden
Ed Boyden is really shaking things up in the world of neuroscience. He’s a professor at MIT, and he’s been working on this super cool technology called optogenetics. Basically, it lets scientists control brain cells using light. Think about that for a second – using light to turn specific neurons on or off. It’s like having a remote control for the brain, which sounds like science fiction, right?
Boyden’s work has opened up so many new avenues for understanding how the brain works. Before optogenetics, studying brain circuits was incredibly difficult. You could record what neurons were doing, but actually controlling them precisely was a huge challenge. This new method allows researchers to pinpoint specific types of cells and then activate or deactivate them with light, giving them a much clearer picture of their function.
What’s so impressive is how this technology is being used.
- Understanding neurological disorders: Researchers are using optogenetics to study conditions like Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and even depression. By manipulating specific brain circuits, they can get a better idea of what goes wrong in these diseases.
- Developing new therapies: The ultimate goal is to use this technology to treat brain disorders. Imagine being able to precisely target and correct faulty brain activity. It’s still early days, but the potential is enormous.
- Mapping brain circuits: It’s helping scientists map out the complex wiring of the brain, figuring out how different areas communicate with each other.
Boyden’s lab is constantly pushing the boundaries, developing new tools and techniques. It’s a field that’s moving incredibly fast, and he’s right at the forefront of it all. His contributions are really changing how we approach brain research and therapy.
18. Meredith Broussard
Meredith Broussard is an Associate Professor at NYU, and she’s doing some really interesting work. She’s been recognized for her contributions to journalism and technology, which is a pretty unique combination.
Her research focuses on how technology impacts society, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and data. It’s not just about the tech itself, but how it affects people and communities. She’s been part of discussions and lists that highlight people making waves in these fields, like the Bloomberg 50.
Broussard often talks about the need for a more critical look at the tools we use every day. She’s interested in:
- The ethical implications of AI and algorithms.
- How data is collected, used, and who it benefits.
- The role of technology in shaping public discourse and understanding.
She’s also been involved in initiatives that bring together researchers and practitioners to think about these issues. It’s a complex area, and her work helps make sense of it all for a wider audience.
19. Yet-Ming Chiang
Yet-Ming Chiang, a professor at MIT, is really shaking things up in the world of materials science. He’s a Kyocera Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, which sounds pretty important, right? His work focuses on developing new materials that can help us tackle some big problems, especially in energy. Think about batteries that last longer or solar cells that are more efficient – that’s the kind of stuff he’s into.
Chiang’s research often involves looking at materials at a really tiny level, like nanoparticles. This allows him to create materials with unique properties that you wouldn’t get with bigger chunks of the same stuff. It’s like building with LEGOs, but on a molecular scale.
Here’s a peek at some of the areas he’s exploring:
- Solid-state batteries: These could be a game-changer for electric cars and electronics, offering better safety and energy density compared to current lithium-ion batteries.
- Advanced ceramics: He’s working on ceramics that are stronger, lighter, and can handle extreme temperatures, which have applications from aerospace to industrial equipment.
- Nanomaterials for energy storage: This includes developing new ways to store energy more effectively, which is key for renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
His goal is to create materials that are not only high-performing but also sustainable and easier to produce. It’s a tough challenge, but the potential impact on our daily lives and the environment is huge. He’s definitely one to watch in the materials innovation space.
20. Vivian Chu
Vivian Chu is the CTO at Diligent Robotics. She’s part of a group of innovators who are really pushing the boundaries in robotics, making machines that can actually help people in practical ways. Think about hospitals or labs – places where tasks can be repetitive or require a lot of precision. Diligent Robotics is focused on creating robots that can assist healthcare workers, taking on some of the more routine jobs so that nurses and doctors can spend more time with patients. It’s not just about building robots; it’s about how these robots can fit into our lives and make things better.
Chu’s work involves a lot of smart engineering. The robots they develop, like Moxi, are designed to be helpful assistants. They can fetch things, deliver items, and generally lighten the load for busy staff. This kind of technology is becoming more important as we look for ways to improve efficiency and care in demanding environments.
Here’s a quick look at what makes Diligent Robotics’ approach stand out:
- Focus on Healthcare: Their robots are specifically designed to help in hospitals and other medical settings.
- Human-Robot Collaboration: The goal is for robots to work alongside people, not replace them entirely.
- Practical Tasks: They concentrate on automating tasks that are time-consuming for human staff.
- Improving Patient Care: By freeing up healthcare professionals, the robots indirectly contribute to better patient outcomes.
21. James Collins
James Collins is a professor at MIT, and he’s doing some really cool stuff with biology and engineering. He’s not just sitting in a lab; he’s actually trying to build things that can help people. Think about it – he’s working on ways to engineer living cells to act like tiny machines.
His work often involves figuring out how to use biological systems to solve problems that traditional engineering can’t quite crack. It’s like he’s taking nature’s blueprints and adapting them for new purposes.
Some of the areas he’s focused on include:
- Developing new ways to treat diseases by reprogramming cells.
- Creating diagnostic tools that can detect illnesses quickly and accurately.
- Engineering biological systems for applications in medicine and beyond.
Collins is really pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible with biology. It’s a complex field, but the potential impact is huge, especially for healthcare. He’s definitely one of those people who makes you think about the future in a different way.
22. James Dahlman
James Dahlman is an associate professor at Georgia Tech and Emory School of Medicine. His work focuses on developing new ways to fight diseases, particularly cancer. He’s really interested in how we can use our own bodies’ systems to target and destroy harmful cells.
One of the main areas Dahlman is exploring involves using engineered viruses. These aren’t the kind that make you sick; instead, they’re modified to specifically seek out and attack cancer cells, leaving healthy cells alone. It’s a pretty clever approach that could lead to treatments with fewer side effects than traditional methods like chemotherapy.
Here’s a look at some of the key aspects of his research:
- Oncolytic Viruses: Dahlman’s lab works with viruses that can infect and kill cancer cells. They’re looking at how to make these viruses even more effective and how to get them where they need to go in the body.
- Gene Therapy: He’s also involved in using gene therapy techniques to deliver therapeutic agents directly to tumors.
- Immunotherapy: A big part of his work ties into boosting the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, often in combination with other treatments.
His goal is to create smarter, more targeted therapies that can make a real difference for patients. It’s a complex field, but the potential for new treatments is huge.
23. Shreya Dave
Shreya Dave is the CEO of Via Separations, a company focused on making industrial processes cleaner and more efficient. Think about how much water and energy goes into making things like paper or textiles. Dave’s work is all about finding better ways to do that, specifically by using advanced membrane technology.
Her approach tackles a big problem: the waste and pollution generated by traditional separation methods used in manufacturing. Instead of relying on harsh chemicals or energy-intensive processes, Via Separations develops specialized filters that can separate materials more precisely and with less environmental impact.
Here’s a simplified look at what that means:
- Developing new materials: Creating membranes with tiny pores designed to let specific molecules pass through while holding others back.
- Improving efficiency: Reducing the amount of water and energy needed for separation tasks.
- Cutting down waste: Minimizing the use of chemicals and the production of byproducts.
Dave’s innovation is a big deal for industries looking to become more sustainable. It’s not just about being green; it’s about making manufacturing smarter and more cost-effective in the long run. Her work at Via Separations is a prime example of how smart engineering can lead to significant environmental and economic benefits.
24. Cesar de la Fuente
Cesar de la Fuente is really shaking things up in the world of bio- and nanotechnology. He’s an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and his work is all about using nature’s own building blocks – like proteins and DNA – to create new tools for medicine and beyond. Think of it like using LEGOs, but on a microscopic scale, and the bricks are biological molecules.
His lab is particularly known for developing what they call "designer microbes." These aren’t your average bacteria; they’re engineered to do specific jobs. For instance, they’ve created bacteria that can produce antibiotics, which is a pretty big deal given how resistant infections are becoming. They’ve also worked on bacteria that can detect diseases or even help clean up pollution. It’s a fascinating approach that taps into the power of biology to solve problems we face.
One of the really cool things about de la Fuente’s research is its potential to create more sustainable and accessible technologies. Instead of relying on complex chemical manufacturing, he’s looking at biological systems that can self-assemble and replicate. This could lead to new ways to make medicines, materials, and even sensors.
Here’s a glimpse at some of the areas his work touches:
- Antibiotic Production: Engineering microbes to create new drugs to fight resistant bacteria.
- Biosensing: Developing biological sensors for detecting diseases or environmental toxins.
- Biomaterials: Creating new materials from biological components for medical or industrial use.
- Synthetic Biology: Designing and building new biological parts, devices, and systems.
25. Oren Etzioni and more
This section wraps up our look at some of the incredible minds under 35 who are making waves. We’ve already met folks like Sharon Li, who’s doing important work in AI safety, and Young Suk Jo, tackling emissions in transportation. There are so many more brilliant people out there.
Think about Oren Etzioni, for example. He’s been a big name in AI for a while, leading the Allen Institute for AI and also holding a professor emeritus title at the University of Washington. His work often focuses on making AI more useful and understandable. It’s not just about building smart systems, but about figuring out how they can actually help us in the real world.
And it’s not just AI. We’ve seen innovators like Mireille Kamariza developing quick tests for diseases like tuberculosis, and Chibueze Amanchukwu creating safer battery electrolytes. Then there’s Andee Wallace, who’s using microbes to protect crops instead of harsh chemicals. These are just a few examples of the diverse challenges these young innovators are tackling.
It really shows how many different areas are seeing major progress:
- Artificial Intelligence: Making machines smarter and safer.
- Biotechnology: Developing new ways to diagnose and treat diseases.
- Materials Science: Creating better, safer components for everything from phones to cars.
- Environmental Solutions: Finding ways to reduce pollution and protect our planet.
These individuals, and many others not listed here, are the ones we should be watching. They’re not just thinking about the future; they’re actively building it, one discovery at a time.
What’s Next?
Looking at all these bright minds, it’s pretty clear the future is in good hands. From tackling climate change with new energy ideas to making AI safer and developing better ways to fight diseases, these young innovators are really pushing things forward. It’s inspiring to see them work across different fields, showing that big problems often need creative solutions from all sorts of places. They’re not just thinking about tomorrow; they’re building it, right now. It makes you wonder what amazing things they’ll come up with next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are these “Innovators Under 35”?
These are young people, all under 35 years old, who are doing amazing work in science and technology. They are coming up with new ideas and inventions that could change the world for the better.
What kind of work do these innovators do?
They work in many different areas! Some are developing new ways to fight diseases, others are creating cleaner energy sources, and some are building smarter robots or improving artificial intelligence. Their work covers everything from medicine to computers to protecting our planet.
Why is it important to recognize young innovators?
Recognizing young innovators shows that they are leading the way in creating the future. It gives them a platform to share their ideas and inspires other young people to pursue their own innovative dreams.
How are these innovators chosen?
Experts and the editors at MIT Technology Review carefully select these individuals from many nominees. They look for people who have shown great talent and have the potential to make a big impact.
What is AI safety, and why is Sharon Li important?
AI safety means making sure artificial intelligence systems are reliable and don’t cause harm, especially when they face situations they haven’t seen before. Sharon Li is being recognized for her important research in this area, helping to make AI safer for everyone.
Can you give an example of another innovator’s work?
Yes! For instance, Young Suk Jo is working on ways to make trucks and ships use a common fertilizer ingredient to reduce pollution. Mireille Kamariza has created a fast test to detect tuberculosis, a disease that affects many people worldwide.
