Summary of: What can save the rainforest?

Topher White started his speech, telling his experience when he went as a tourist to Borneo. The first thing that he noticed was la noise of the jungle of Borneo. It was made by insects and gibbons. Actually this part of this country was a sanctuary for wild life. But it had a big problem: the illegal logging. The guardians who are supposed to protect the jungle, couldn't do that by noise. White notice that there was coverage of cell phones in this place, and he had an idea: use the technology (cell phones) to detect logging. He did it. White developed the device with solar panels and system which allowed detected the sound of chainsaws. When this system detected the sound of one, the guardians went immediately. The loggers stopped doing that. The successful of this system was global. Curiously, many people around the world send their old cell phones to them in order to be useful yet.

Personal impression:

In my opinion I find this story amazing, for many reasons: first, technology not necessarily destroy the environment: it can save that. Second, we can use 'trash' again in order to make a good thing. Finally, with some of imagination and good intentions, we can make great and beneficial things.

Summary of: What we're learning from online education

Daphne Koller started her speech saying that many people in the audience are lucky people because they received the opportunity to study an university degree, but there are many people around the world who don't have the same opportunity, for example south Africa. Seeing this reality, she and Andrew started a school via internet called Courses with the intention to give the best education from the best teachers at the best universities. The she showed examples about people who, for many reasons, couldn't have a good education, but thanks to Courses, they would receive a degree. Koller is conscious that many of the students don't complete the course or that fact that studying via internet doesn't mean that they have learned. For that reason she and Andrew developed their school with homework. Finally, she concluded her speech saying three important things about education: first, education is a human right; second, modern education allow that people can study without important interruptions; finally, education allow that the smart people appeared in order to make a better world.

Personal impression:

I think that education is a great tool to develop and make better the world. But I think that the knowledge without values is really dangerous: remember the atomic bomb. being smart doesn't make you a good and benefic person.