Bill Gates and Some Big Ideas

(Continued from EdWorld At Home)

Imagine a world where food can cure disease, where instead of spreading germs, mosquitoes spread vitamins, and where bananas don’t need to be kept cold.

Bill Gates, who started Microsoft and is the world’s richest man, suggested this world, as he offered $450 million for research on ways to make the world a healthier place by using nature. He made this offer in 2003, in Davos, Switzerland, and originally offered only $200 million. He later raised the amount to $450 million so that the research wouldn’t just be for the big things like cancer and heart disease.

The winners, who were announced in June, came from all over the world. During three days in Seattle, Washington, the 43 teams explained their plans, in 10 minutes each.

People also discussed whether or not it was right to change nature so much, as many of the projects planned. Many of the scientists found ways to help each other with their research. For example, a man who planned to make rice that had vitamins in it asked a scientist who made a handheld laboratory, which was meant to test blood for things that can cause disease, if the laboratory could be changed to test for iron and vitamins.

Gates said, “Eighty percent of these are likely to be dead ends, but even if we have a ten percent hit rate, it will all have been worthwhile.”

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02/13/2006