Global music star Will.i.am said that kids should aspire to learn techonology skills and be more “Bill.i.am than Will.i.am”, referring to his fellow interviewee Bill Gates. The two were participating in the Evening Standard Progress Conversation on Wednesday 26th October 2016 at London’s Science Museum. Moderated by Sarah Sands, Editor of the London Evening Standard, the discussion was about how science is delivering breakthroughs and innovations that are transforming lives around the world. The two philanthropists discussed their shared passion for science and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) skills as tools for developing innovative solutions.
Bill Gates praised Britain for its “extraordinary leadership in science and innovation, which has been good for Britain and good for the world” and called on the UK government to increase its own investments in science and R&D to safeguard Britain’s global leadership as the UK negotiates its exit from the EU. He spoke about his own commitment to the UK, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation continuing its $1 billion investment programme in British research and innovation.
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Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill Gates is a technologist, business leader, and philanthropist. He grew up in Seattle, Washington, with an amazing and supportive family who encouraged his interest in computers at an early age. He dropped out of college to start Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen. He married Melinda French in 1994 and they have three children. Today, Bill and Melinda Gates co-chair the charitable foundation bearing their names and are working together to give their wealth back to society.
About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people – especially those with the fewest resources – have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
will.i.am, Global Music Artist, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
will.i.am is a multi-faceted entertainer and front man of the Black Eyed Peas, producer and creative innovator who has been recognized by seven Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a CLIO Award, and the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award. During the 10th Annual T3 Magazine ceremony in London, will.i.am was honoured with the 2016 T3 Tech Personality of the Year Award. As Founder & CEO of i.am+, will.i.am leads development activities for the dial, the first smart band device with an onboard, untethered mobile phone capability powered by AneedA, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused operating system.
Fusing the worlds of technology and fashion, will.i.am and team also developed i.am+ Buttons Bluetooth Wireless Headphone. Buttons feature magnetic earpieces, when clipped together, transform the listening device into a stylish necklace made of spun metal and woven fabric that incorporates a microphone connected to AneedA for making calls and finding music, both hands-free.
Additional business leadership roles include: founding equity shareholder in Beats Electronics (purchased by Apple in 2014); the Creator of EKOCYCLE, a sustainable fashion and accessories brand in conjunction with partner The Coca-Cola Company; Co-creator & Partner in ill.i Optics eyewear, and recently announced as Executive Producer and star/mentor of “Planet of the Apps”, a new reality series for Apple TV now in production.
In 2017, he will return in his starring role a Coach on season six of “The Voice” UK edition, to air on ITV. As an innovation consultant with a passion for merging the worlds of technology and design, will.i.am previously served as Chief Creative Officer of 3D Systems, and Director of Creative Innovation at Intel. As a passionate advocate for STEM/STEAM education, will.i.am funds and operates STEM-focused after-school and college scholarship programs via his i.am.angel Foundation. To learn more, please visit www.iamangelfoundation.org, www.iamplus.com and will.i.am.
Sarah Sands, Editor of the London Evening Standard
Sarah Sands trained on The Sevenoaks Courier as a news reporter, before moving to the Evening Standard – initially as Editor of the Londoner’s Diary – and took further posts as Features Editor and Associate Editor. She joined the Daily Telegraph in 1996 as Deputy Editor to assume responsibility later for the Saturday edition.She was appointed the first female Editor of The Sunday Telegraph in 2005. In 2006 she worked as Consultant Editor on the Daily Mail and in 2008, she became Editor-in-Chief of the UK edition of Reader’s Digest. She was appointed Deputy Editor of the London Evening Standard in 2009 and became its Editor in 2012
The debated was followed by the Science Museum’s Contagion ‘Lates’, an evening of entertainment on the deadliest diseases facing the world today such as Ebola, Malaria and the Zika Virus, and the innovative solutions being developed to combat them. Visitors to Lates can also enjoy live DJs, the Punk Science comedy show, and the best silent disco in London.