Penn Alumni: Our Signature in the World

October 26, 2009

Penn alumni -- and their genius for collaborative invention -- have been making headlines recently:

Penn alumnus George E. Smith (C'55) [right] was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physics, in recognition for his invention (along with Willard S. Boyle) of an integrated circuit that converts light into an electronic charge -- the electronic "eyes" of digital cameras. The revolutionary technology -- found today in telescopes, digital cameras, fax machines, bar code readers, and endoscopes -- has spawned dramatic advancements from astronomy to microsurgery and transformed the daily lives of millions.

   story | List of Penn Nobel Laureates

Aakash Mathur, a 2009 Wharton alumnus, and Jay Parekh, a 2009 Engineering alumnus, are developing the prototype of the reusable Hydros Bottle. The bottle purifies water within about 20 seconds of being filled -- helping to address the global water crisis and reduce the use of disposable water bottles.

   story

"Our signature in the world." That's how President Amy Gutmann describes Penn's global alumni community. Their intellectual energy and entrepreneurial spirit are needed in today's world, and when drawn together in common cause, Penn alumni are a formidable force for good, using their talents and connections to strengthen the University, support each other, and better the world.

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