TAMEST Member Bob Metcalfe, Ph.D. (NAE) Makes Generous Donation to Support National Academies Advancement
TAMEST is proud to announce a generous gift of $25,000 from renowned innovator, co-inventor of Ethernet and internet pioneer Bob Metcalfe, Ph.D. (NAE), The University of Texas at Austin, to support our National Academies Advancement Initiative. Dr. Metcalfe’s contribution is a major endorsement of TAMEST’s efforts to advance the next generation of trailblazing researchers.
Dr. Metcalfe’s support will help TAMEST as it launches the National Academies Advancement Initiative. This new initiative, a milestone in TAMEST’s 20th year, is designed to identify the most promising researchers and innovators in the state and help nominate them to the National Academies.
“TAMEST’s efforts help ensure that we’re not only recognizing the already-prominent figures in science, but also those whose essential work might otherwise go unnoticed,” said Dr. Metcalfe. “This is crucial for a thriving scientific community in Texas.”
The new program, overseen by the TAMEST Board of Directors, has enormous potential to help recognize and advance Texas’s rising stars.
“This generous gift from Dr. Metcalfe profoundly strengthens our vision to advance Texas as a national leader in science and innovation,” said TAMEST Board President Brendan Lee, M.D., Ph.D. (NAM), Baylor College of Medicine. “With this support, we’ll accelerate the progress of young researchers whose work has the potential to achieve breakthroughs in science and technology.”
In this early stage of the National Academies Advancement Initiative, over 100 promising potential candidates have been identified. In the coming years, the initiative is set to expand, with the objective to become a sustained catalyst for growing the TAMEST membership.
“The list of a hundred potential nominees compiled over the years is an important asset. It’s critical we look back and forward, ensuring we capture diverse, promising candidates who may otherwise go unnoticed,” said Dr. Metcalfe. “We need to cast a wide net to find researchers who aren’t always in the spotlight. There are people who focus solely on lab work, papers and research, and we need to ensure we reach them as well, not just those who are already getting awards.”
Dr. Metcalfe’s partnership with TAMEST reflects his lifelong commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation, and his vision for a Texas where emerging researchers are equipped with the resources necessary to lead groundbreaking projects. With decades of experience in both academia and industry – from his early days as a young researcher to receiving the prestigious 2022 Turing Award – Dr. Metcalfe has witnessed firsthand how mentorship, like that offered by TAMEST through its protégé program, can accelerate careers and drive significant breakthroughs.
“One principle I’ve always followed is having more than one mentor,” said Dr. Metcalfe. “Having just one is a little dangerous or fragile. I think we should strive for multiple mentors, so you can mix their various advice and apply it to your situation. Attending the TAMEST annual meeting and seeing the O’Donnell Award winners present their work is a rare and valuable experience. It’s an opportunity to see good stuff – insightful and very technical work – that can inspire and maybe lead to finding mentors.”
Dr. Metcalfe encourages others to join him in supporting TAMEST and the National Academies Advancement Initiative, urging those passionate about medicine, engineering, science and technology to consider how their contributions can help build Texas’ future.
“We invite everyone who shares Dr. Metcalfe’s vision of being a champion for the next generation of researchers and innovators to join us in supporting the TAMEST Annual Fund,” said Dr. Lee. “Together, we can ensure that Texas’ brightest minds have the resources they need to drive innovation and make an impact.”
Give to the 2024 TAMEST Annual Fund by visiting https://tamest.org/support/annual-fund/ or contacting Bianca Rawlings, TAMEST Associate Director of Development, at bianca.rawlings@austin.utexas.edu.
