Inspiring Solutions for a Better World

Imagine walking into a classroom and…you are under a tree. Branches, leaves and the sun bursting through, the feeling of being outside. Forty plus years of empirical science developed at the University of Michigan teaches us, viewing trees or images of trees calms us and helps us focus. Nature In The Classroom is a nonprofit bringing this science to life by installing ceiling murals of trees in classrooms. Tree ceilings are installed in fourteen school districts in California, Colorado, Utah, and Pennsylvania, serving 8,000 students. The feedback from teachers and students is consistent with the scientific findings. Teachers express that students are more focused, happier and the trees create a greater sense of community in the classroom. Students are saying the trees are calming, make them feel creative and want to help the environment. Our speaker this week is Rotarian Ernesto Rodriguez. Ernesto provided psychological services for US State Department Schools in Colombia and Saudi Arabia. He founded ER Photo in 1988, commercial and fine art photography, and his work is in the Curator’s Collection at MoMA NY and on exhibit in the Smithsonian. In 2002 Ernesto founded Sereneview®, to bring the science of viewing calming nature landscapes to the hospital patient bedside. Sereneview curtains are installed in over 3,500 hospitals in the US, Europe and Australia. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Nature In The Classroom®, a 501(c)(3) to bring the science and benefits of nature views to education settings. The link offer articles, podcasts and media: https://www.natureintheclassroom.org/media--articles.html YouTube video: https://youtu.be/zAnmvwQwNOs

$4 glasses are one of the most affordable healthcare interventions. In this episode, we describe how a breakthrough in adaptive optics makes this possible by providing accurate and inexpensive eye exams. The Quicksee is an accurate handheld auto refractometer bringing eye prescriptions (the bottleneck to refraction corrections) to remote, underserved areas. The SimVis is a head-mounted binocular visual simulator of presbyopic corrections bringing patients the experience of vision prior to surgery. Diagnostic devices in ophthalmology inspired by adaptive optics technologies in astronomy have made their way to the clinic in the form of affordable portable or wearable instruments. Dr. Susana Marcos is currently the David R Williams Director of the Center for Visual Science, Nicholas George Professor of Optics at the Institute of Optics and Professor of Ophthalmology at the Flaum Eye Institute, at the University of Rochester, New York. Dr. Marcos is the former Director of the Institute of Optics at the National Research Council in Spain. Dr. Marcos obtained her PhD in Physics at the University of Salamanca, Spain, and was a Fulbright and Human Frontier Postdoctoral Fellow at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Harvard University. She is a leading researcher in visual optics, having pioneered multiple technologies of eye optical imaging diagnostics and treatments, including novel IOL designs. She has published more than 200 highly cited publications, is a co-inventor of 26 patents and participated in two spin-out companies (Plenoptika and 2EyesVision). She is a Fellow of Optica, European Optical Society and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Dr. Marcos' work has been recognized with numerous awards including the Adolph Lomb Medal and the Edwin Land Medal of Optica (formerly Optical Society of America), the ICO Prize by the International Commission for Optics, the Ramon y Cajal Medal by the Royal Academy of Sciences, the Alcon Award, the Physics, Innovation and Technology Award by the Royal Society of Physics, or the National Research Award in Engineering by the Spanish Government, the Jaime I Award (the last two presented by the King of Spain). https://youtu.be/ohtiLFIrk54 To learn more, go to: Marcos Lab: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112362803-susana-marcos Plenoptika: https://plenoptika.com 2EyesVision: https://www.2eyesvision.com ⁠⁠More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley⁠⁠    Website: ⁠⁠Rotary.cool⁠ Meetings’ ⁠⁠Video Archive⁠⁠ YouTubeChannel⁠⁠  How to become a member in ⁠⁠this online Rotary eClub⁠⁠ ⁠⁠More about Rotary International:⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.Rotary.org⁠⁠ Find a ⁠⁠local Rotary club⁠⁠  Find an ⁠⁠online Rotary Club⁠⁠ Podcast and Zoom Host: ⁠⁠Rushton Hurley⁠⁠ Podcast Producer: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠ Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠  #PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary

Starring on the hit YouTube channel, Grandpa Bobby and Grandpa Scott tell the stories of their travels. Travel as Service: Traveling is more than an opportunity to visit important cultural and historic sites, or a chance to sink your toes in the sands of a tropical resort. Travel is an opportunity to create bridges to alternate cultures and traditions. It is an opportunity to learn and to grow from that awareness. To walk in someone else’s footsteps. Travel puts us in touch with people from all walks of life and experience. Through these interactions we can learn how people from different places encounter situations similar to our own in their own unique way – where they live, how they live, what they eat, what they value. Learning about different cultures provides a greater understanding and empathy for people around the world, which in turn can lead to greater tolerance and acceptance. These are the bridges that travel can serve to help unite our diverse planet, celebrate our common goals, and minimize misunderstandings – all with a hopeful eye towards peace. Bobby Puleo (aka Grandpa Bobby) was born and raised in a small town in Upstate New York where he dreamed of being an architect and traveling the world. After receiving his degree in Architecture from the University of Arizona, Bobbly moved to San Francisco where he met Scott Rhinehart, and formed a relationship that has lasted nearly 46 years. Together with Scott’s former wife, Grandpa Bobby helped raise two daughters and six grandchildren. The travel bug never left, and over the years Grandpa Bobby has visited more than twenty countries throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as most of the United States. Scott Rhinehart (aka Grandpa Scott) was born and raised in a small mining town in Eastern Utah to a large family of nine, and as a young boy, dreamed of the adventures that lay beyond. After moving to Southern California as a teenager, Scott received his degree in sociology, married and had two children. While the marriage may not have lasted a long time, the friendship with his former wife Laura was a constant. Together with Bobby, the three coparented their daughters and grandchildren as a close family unit. Two years ago, Scott created the YouTube channel Two Gay Grandpas Travel to document their travel adventures for their grandchildren and to inspire them to seek out new adventures. The internet soon came to embrace these videos as well, and to date, over 97,000 subscribers follow their adventures. Members and guests, please welcome Grandpa Bobby and Grandpa Scott! To learn more about their travels, watch their videos at: https://www.youtube.com/@twogaygrandpastravel/videos To listen to the Travel Your Heart podcast, you can go to: https://open.spotify.com/show/29TnR3cpXCGRlif38XYy6P

Diane Shader Smith, has had a vibrant career as a writer, speaker, publicist, and fundraiser with an extensive roster of clients during her multi-decade career. When Diane’s daughter Mallory died at the age of 25, she brought Mallory’s memoir to publication as Salt in My Soul (Random House 2019), which led to the documentary of the same name (3Arts Entertainment). Using Mallory’s words, Diane has given 250+ talks worldwide about patient insights, the global health crisis called AMR, and phage therapy - everything Mallory wrote about and stood for. In May of 2024, Random House published an adaptation of Mallory’s first memoir under the title, Diary of a Dying Girl, that shifts the lens towards the emotional hurdles and mental health challenges of living with resistant bacteria. Two months before publication, Diane, a recent graduate of the Narrative Medicine CPA Program at Columbia University, conceived of the idea to create The Global AMR Diary: Collective Storytelling to Shift Perspectives and Shape Policy. The World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many other public health organizations agreed to be part of this important global initiative. Diane has been interviewed by many major media outlets and written an Op-ed for USA Today and for the CDC. In her talk, Diane Shader Smith will delve into the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), illuminated through the powerful narrative of her daughter Mallory’s experience as captured in "Diary of a Dying Girl." Diane will explore how storytelling can be a transformative force in shifting perspectives and shaping health policies. She will showcase compelling slides that bring to life the urgent need for action, emphasizing the critical role of narrative medicine in public health advocacy. Drawing on her extensive experience and the impactful work of The Global AMR Diary, Diane’s presentation will not only highlight the personal stakes of AMR but also mobilize stakeholders to commit to meaningful change. This talk promises to leave audiences armed with knowledge and a renewed drive to tackle this pressing health challenge. YouTube of this presentation: https://youtu.be/XReY3B161Qw To learn more, go to: https://diaryofadyinggirl.com/ https://www.globalamrdiary.org/ https://www.calfund.org/mallorys-legacy-fund/

Dateability is the only dating app designed for the disabled and chronically ill communities. People with disabilities and chronic illness often encounter ableism on other dating apps. We understand the unique circumstances that present when dating with a disability, which is why we created a safe and accepting space to create meaningful connections for people with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities.Our speakers are Alexa and Jacqueline Child. Alexa graduated from College of the Holy Cross in 2012 and Georgetown University Law Center in 2015. After law school, she began her career in public service and is currently a public interest attorney. Alexa and her sister collaborated on Dateability after Jacqueline’s negative experiences dating with chronic illness. She enjoys all the typical Colorado things—hiking and skiing—but also loves to cook and binge watch TV. After becoming disabled due to chronic illnesses as a teenager, Jacqueline’s life was forever changed. She was quickly exposed to the ableist behaviors and expectations perpetuated by society. She found dating challenging and would always fear disclosing her disability. She constantly wished she could meet someone else who understood life with chronic illness and disabilities. Since there wasn’t an app to do that, Jacqueline and Alexa decided they would make one.Jacqueline Child graduated from Colorado College in 2016 with a degree in Psychology and received her master’s degree in Family and Human Development in 2017. She spends her free time playing music, volunteering at the local animal shelter, and hanging with family and her dog, Luna. For the full interview, with all 18 minutes of Q&A, see: https://open.spotify.com/episode/06BRcAII9MxL32XupZv7UJ?si=c71dc7318ae34a34 or https://youtu.be/hDgujMoalf0 To learn more, go to: https://info.dateabilityapp.com/ Download Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dateability/id6443474660 Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dateabilityapp&hl=en&gl=US https://youtu.be/hDgujMoalf0

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is director of research and programs at 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit promoting the 4-day workweek. Alex will present an overview of the global 4-day week movement, which aims to shorten working hours without cutting salaries or productivity. He will conclude by talking about strategies for making the case for a 4-day week in your own workplace. His books (Work Less, Do More: Designing the Four Day Week (Penguin, 2023); Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How (Public Affairs, 2020); Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less (Basic Books, 2016); and The Distraction Addiction (Little Brown , 2013)) show how companies and individuals can build digital-age lives and workplaces that integrate focus, creativity, and rest. Alex has worked at the Institute for the Future and Strategic Business Insights, and during his academic career was affiliated with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Microsoft Research Cambridge, and Oxford University. Alex received a Ph.D. in history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania. To learn more, go to: 4 Day Week Global's website: http://www.4dayweek.com Alex' website: https://www.strategy.rest Alex' book, SHORTER: WORK BETTER, SMARTER AND LESS- HERE'S HOW: https://amzn.to/3ZELfWP ⁠⁠More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley⁠⁠    Website: ⁠⁠Rotary.cool⁠ Meetings’ ⁠⁠Video Archive⁠⁠ YouTubeChannel⁠⁠  How to become a member in ⁠⁠this online Rotary eClub⁠⁠ ⁠⁠More about Rotary International:⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.Rotary.org⁠⁠ Find a ⁠⁠local Rotary club⁠⁠  Find an ⁠⁠online Rotary Club⁠⁠   Podcast and Zoom Host: ⁠⁠Rushton Hurley⁠⁠ Podcast Producer: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠ Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠  #PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary

Today we'll learn about an organization called Real Ice. Climate change, caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, could cause the global temperature to increase by several degrees by the end of the century, precipitating climate tipping points with serious consequences. The solution to this problem is to cease the burning of fossil fuels and to eliminate excess greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. However, lowering atmospheric greenhouse gas levels – even under the most aggressive scenarios – may not happen fast enough to prevent the onset of tipping points. Such reasoning has led to proposals for methods to actively cool the Earth in order to buy time to decarbonize, and there has been considerable debate around the risks and benefits of these various methods. Sea ice thickening is one of these methods that aims at slowing or reversing the decline of Arctic sea ice through sea water pump by enhancing its natural formation and thickening. Our speaker, Pascal Martin-Daguet, is a civil engineer from France who has spent over three decades as a project manager on large and complex construction projects over the world and especially in Asia. Pascal has specialized in what some would call "impossible projects," working to solve problems with sustainability in mind. Pascal has lived in twelve different countries and believes that diversity in all its forms is what makes human societies rich and strong. He believes that we need to rethink and rebuild human societies so that life can continue to thrive, and he’s fully engaged in that challenge. Additionally, he was an active member of the Rotary Clubs of Penang in Malaysia and of Vladivostok in Russia.

Brewster Kahle, the founder of the Internet Archive, presenting "Universal Access to All Knowledge." Current statistics: https://archive.org/about/ ⁠⁠More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley⁠⁠    Website: ⁠⁠Rotary.cool⁠ Meetings’ ⁠⁠Video Archive⁠⁠ YouTubeChannel⁠⁠  How to become a member in ⁠⁠this online Rotary eClub⁠⁠ ⁠⁠More about Rotary International:⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.Rotary.org⁠⁠ Find a ⁠⁠local Rotary club⁠⁠  Find an ⁠⁠online Rotary Club⁠⁠   Podcast and Zoom Host: ⁠⁠Rushton Hurley⁠⁠ Podcast Producer: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠ Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠  #PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary

Leanne Fan is a high schooler from San Diego, CA. In 2022 she was named America's Top Young Scientist by 3M. Fan's invention can both detect and treat mid-ear infections, and at a low cost. Details: By 2050, 1 in 4 people will have hearing loss to some extent. In children, the majority of this hearing loss is caused by mid-ear infections. Loss of hearing that comes from repeated ear infections can also affect one's future and health. For a child, this can affect the ability to learn and develop social skills. Diagnostic and treatment may be too expensive and unavailable in lower income countries, as over 50% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to healthcare. Our speaker, Leanne Fan, was inspired by her mother's battles with multiple ear infections to invent the Finsen Headphones, a prototype that detects and treats mid-ear infections using acoustic reflectometry, machine learning, and phototherapy. These headphones can both detect and treat mid ear infections, and at a low cost. A high schooler from San Diego, Fan was named America's Top Young Scientist by 3M and Discovery Education in 2022 and rang the New York Stock Exchange opening bell. She strives to provide a low cost and non-medicinal ear infection treatment in place of antibiotics for kids to prevent hearing loss, control infections before surgery is needed, and reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance. Fan also encourages science and art in her community and in younger children by promoting her local science fairs and teaching children science at science expos. To learn more about Leanne's project in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, go to: https://wvnexus.org/?p=13513 ⁠⁠More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley⁠⁠    Website: ⁠⁠Rotary.cool⁠ Meetings’ ⁠⁠Video Archive⁠⁠ YouTubeChannel⁠⁠  How to become a member in ⁠⁠this online Rotary eClub⁠⁠ ⁠⁠More about Rotary International:⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.Rotary.org⁠⁠ Find a ⁠⁠local Rotary club⁠⁠  Find an ⁠⁠online Rotary Club⁠⁠ Podcast and Zoom Host: ⁠⁠Rushton Hurley⁠⁠ Podcast Producer: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠ Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠  #PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary

GiveDirectly sends cash directly to people living in extreme poverty, no strings attached. GiveDirectly is the first – and largest – nonprofit that lets donors send money directly to the world’s poorest. They believe people living in poverty deserve the dignity to choose for themselves how best to improve their lives, and cash enables that choice. They have successfully delivered over $700M to approximately 1.5M people across 15 countries since their founding. Cash transfers are arguably the most-studied anti-poverty intervention, with proven positive impacts on recipients' economic, health, and education outcomes. GiveDirectly has advanced the cash research base with nearly 20 randomized control trials from its own programs, generating rigorous evidence on key design and implementation questions across varied contexts. Ilan Wallentin currently serves on GiveDirectly's Development team, having spent the previous two years as the organization's Chief of Staff under the leadership of Secretary of State for International Development, Rory Stewart. https://youtu.be/38kFLfqsk50 To learn more, go to: General -- https://www.givedirectly.org/ Research -- https://www.givedireGiveDirectlyctly.org/research-at-give-directly/ Donations -- https://donate.givedirectly.org/ ⁠⁠More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley⁠⁠    Website: ⁠⁠Rotary.cool⁠ Meetings’ ⁠⁠Video Archive⁠⁠ YouTubeChannel⁠⁠  How to become a member in ⁠⁠this online Rotary eClub⁠⁠       ⁠⁠More about Rotary International:⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.Rotary.org⁠⁠ Find a ⁠⁠local Rotary club⁠⁠  Find an ⁠⁠online Rotary Club⁠⁠   Podcast and Zoom Host: ⁠⁠Rushton Hurley⁠⁠ Podcast Producer: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠ Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠  #PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary