D-Lab Innovators Night ~ Panel @ MIT Wed 4/21

I'm moderating what promises to be a truly remarkable D-Lab Innovators Night panel this Wed night 21 April 2010 from 7-9pm at MIT in 6-120...

"Hear the amazing stories of 5 innovators who are blazing trails on the ground in India, Tanzania and Uganda. Get their insights on how to take action on societal issues in creative and effective ways. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet 5 unique leaders and change agents in one room!"

Visiting us and speaking on this panel organized by several D-Lab colleagues and sponsored by the MIT International Development Initiative are:

• Fatuma Acan ~ Uganda ~ Director of MADE (Mobility Appliances for Disabled Women Entrepreneurs) and the Pan-African Wheelchair Association, wheelchair rider from childhood polio and the first woman in Africa to train as a wheelchair technologist;
• Suprio Das ~ India ~ Senior Adviser to Aqua Welfare Society and an independent inventor of water treatment and power generation devices;
• Harish Hande ~ India ~ Co-Founder and Director of SELCO Solar, a social enterprise that provides sustainable energy solutions and services to under-served households and businesses;
• Ralf Hotchkiss ~ US ~ Co-Founder of Whirlwind Wheelchair International and a wheelchair rider who has over 35 years experience working in 42 countries teaching people who need wheelchairs how to build and maintain them for themselves;
• Bernard Kiwia ~ Tanzania ~ Head of Technology for MIT $100K D-Track winner Global Cycle Solutions and a prolific inventor of pedal-powered devices, including a pedal-power hacksaw and mobile phone charger

All fascinating and prolific people. I'd go to see any one of them speak and we've got them all! P.S. Here's the archival video...