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Nick McKeown is a Senior Fellow at Intel, an emeritus professor at Stanford University in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and a visiting professor at Oxford University. He has founded technology companies in Silicon Valley and was recently appointed to the Council of Science and Technology (CST), which advises the Prime Minister and Cabinet on strategic science and technology policy issues.

McKeown received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Leeds in 1986. From 1986 to 1989, he worked for Hewlett-Packard Labs in the network and communications research group in Bristol, England. He relocated to the United States in 1989 and earned a master’s degree in 1992 and a PhD in 1995, both from the University of California at Berkeley. During the spring of 1995, he worked for Cisco Systems, contributing to the architecture of their GSR 12000 router. He joined Stanford University’s faculty in 1995 as an assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science. In 1997, McKeown co-founded Abrizio Inc. with Anders Swahn, serving as CTO. Abrizio was acquired by PMC-Sierra in 1999. He became an associate professor in 2002. In 2003, he co-founded Nemo Systems with Sundar Iyer and served as CEO until its acquisition by Cisco Systems in 2005. He became the faculty director of the Clean Slate Program in 2006 and was promoted to full professor at Stanford in 2010. In 2007, Casado, McKeown, and Shenker co-founded Nicira Networks, a company based in Palo Alto, California, focused on network virtualization, acquired by VMWare in July 2012.

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In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, the Marconi Society is proud to recognize three visionary researchers who are driving innovation in their respective fields, each with a unique focus on solving complex problems that have the potential to reshape our digital world. Venkat Arun, Ronit Sohanpal, and Zixian Wei are the 2023 Paul Baran Young Scholars awardees, recognized for their contributions to the fields of advanced communications and information technology, their leadership and commitment to digital equity.

Venkat Arun:  Transforming Networked Applications Through Performance Verification

Venkat Arun is challenging the status quo of networked applications. At a time when instantaneous responses are essential for applications like virtual reality and remote surgery, predicting and guaranteeing real-world performance is paramount.

“I seek to address this challenge by bridging the gap between practical systems and theoretical proofs of their performance. Current theoretical and empirical methods to analyze system performance are too optimistic because they use stochastic models that make strong assumptions about the real world,” indicated Arun. “I have proposed performance verification as an alternate strategy of using non-deterministic, but non-stochastic, models to strike the right balance between not assuming too much while still making practically meaningful guarantees. Most excitingly, we designed a tool that synthesized algorithms that incorporate new ideas that were automatically produced by a computer.”

Arun began working on congestion control as an undergraduate intern with 2023 Marconi Fellow, Hari Balakrishnan.  After about a year he went through a familiar problem that many of those who have worked in congestion control faced and he came to two conclusions. “First, in the real world, the delay experienced by packets varies in complex ways making it difficult to use as a signal of congestion. This was the basis on which I designed my algorithm, Copa,” Arun tells us. “Second, we never had a definition for what it means to “solve” congestion control. I came up with a precise mathematical definition that, if we manage to satisfy, will produce an effective algorithm. Later, I realized that the methods I developed to make congestion control precise were also applicable to other problems in computer systems. This led to my current research agenda of developing tools to understand performance in a more principled way. Performance verification is one such tool.”

As we forge ahead into an increasingly digital future, it’s essential to ensure that no one is left behind. “These tools will improve digital equity because today’s systems are evaluated on test beds that are often more reflective of well-resourced users. As a result, the performance for poorly resourced users is worse than it needs to be. A principled understanding of the system’s performance will enable us to design systems that perform well for a wider range of users,” Arun shares. “I see digital equity as a powerful driver toward broader social equity. Access to the digital world empowers people to enhance their quality of life and earning ability through better access to knowledge and resources. In the immediate future, I will focus on making access more affordable by making computer systems more efficient and performant.”

Ronit Sohanpal:  Revolutionizing Submarine Fiber Optic Cables with Optical Frequency Combs

Submarine optical cables are massive highways carrying over 99% of global data and posing challenges related to cost, size, and complexity. Ronit Sohanpal of University College London is on a mission to revolutionize this critical infrastructure by exploring the potential of optical frequency combs.

“My research investigates ways to generate and use alternative light sources, called optical frequency combs, to replace the large laser arrays used in wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems. A frequency comb is a laser source that outputs multiple equally spaced wavelengths simultaneously but requires only a single laser to generate,” said Sohanpal. “Using combs we can reduce the cost, size and power consumption of the optical transmitter to facilitate larger, more efficient WDM systems. A key part of my research is looking at how we can use novel materials and waveguides (like silicon core fiber) to generate nonlinear frequency combs with low noise and several hundreds of individual wavelengths that can be used in modern telecommunications networks.”

Sohanpal was drawn to this field because of the way in which fundamental optical fiber physics determines how we design and create optical networks, and therefore directly impacts millions of people’s daily lives. “There’s been a lot of interest in frequency combs for telecommunications applications in the last decade. The engineering community is also exploring combs in fiber-adjacent applications, like radio-frequency signal processing, wireless communications, and sensing,” Sohanpal tells us. “The best thing about working on optical sources is that you aren’t tied to a specific application, so there’s a very large scope of possible applications to explore. I think that’s very exciting!”

For Sohanpal, digital equity is not just a concept but a mission. His work in optical communications aims to bridge the digital divide and promote equal access to information and resources. “It is disheartening to know that so many young people across the world are limited by poor network infrastructure or computer access. As researchers in ICT, I believe we have a responsibility to ensure everyone can live in a world where the internet is safe, open, and accessible to all,” says Sohanpal.

Zixian Wei:  Charting a New Course for Optical Access Networks 

Zixian Wei’s research is dedicated to enhancing the capacity of next-generation optical access networks and photonics technologies for consumer electronics. “Since 2020, the research I have been involved in is to adopt coherent technology to further upgrade the capacity and performance of next-generation optical passive networks,” said Wei.  “At the time the pandemic began, I was thinking about my next five-year research plan at McGill. People started working from home and meeting each other online. We’ve retained some of that routine even post-pandemic. We know the technical concepts of virtual reality and even the metaverse will be particularly popular there. These various things led to a surge in data traffic on the access network side, which motivated me to make a contribution to this field.”

Much of Wei’s work will be used in real-world deployments to become commercial products that benefit many people. “My research has been conducted in cooperation with some information and telecommunications companies. My inspiration comes from industry but I also enjoy knowing that my technology will be widely available to a large number of people,” stated Wei.

Raised in a small town in southern China, Wei experienced firsthand the inequalities in educational resources caused by regional disparities and information gaps. His story has been shaped by the transformative power of digital technology, a realization that ignited his passion for “digital inclusion.” Wei shares, “I am a first-generation college student in my family. Thanks to the development of the Internet and information technology over the past two decades, a small number of people in this generation, including me, have been able to explore more possibilities in life.”

The Guiding Light of Mentorship

Mentorship plays a crucial role in their careers. Venkat thanks his advisors, Hari Balakrishnan and Mohammad Alizadeh. “They have had a deep impact on my research career. It is particularly heartening to be recognized in the same event as Hari.”

Ronit acknowledges his PhD supervisor, Dr. Zhixian Liu. “He always encourages me and the rest of his students to think big. His ambitious and energetic approach to research has taught me a lot about how to generate my own research momentum.”

Zixian recognizes his current supervisor, Prof. David V. Plant. “The past few years have been marked by the raging epidemic and economic downturn. He and the McGill community support me in freely thinking and exploring a range of academic and engineering issues related to optical communications.”

Together, these three brilliant minds are leaders in the fields of advanced communications and information technology. Their innovations will shape our future, creating a more digitally inclusive world where technology benefits everyone, regardless of their background or location. As the 2023 Paul Baran Young Scholars awardees, they represent a diverse group of young scientists and engineers who are making a profound impact on our interconnected world.

A Message to their Peers

In the unfolding narrative of these three Young Scholars, they share a message to their peers, colleagues, and the wider tech community:

Venkat encourages us with the words,  “Thinking of cool new ideas that expand human ability is fun! Let’s do it!”

Ronit reminds us of the essence of success, saying, “make sure you love what you do! Passion for your field is paramount, not only for achieving research success but also for making connections with other members of the scientific community.” 

Zixian advocates for “Technology for social good — The science and technology created by people will eventually return to people and society. We should always think about the next evolution from the perspective of globalization, humanities, and society.”

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

About the Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

The Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award honors the world’s most innovative young engineers in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Presented to researchers who are 27 years old or younger to commemorate Guglielmo Marconi’s age when he made his first successful wireless transmission, this award recognizes scientists and engineers who have shown extraordinary technical acumen, creativity and promise for using ICT in service of digital inclusion.

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Click here for panelist slides.

The Marconi Society is proud to present the first state case study in our virtual event series, A National Inflection Point: The Intersection of Research & Education Networks and Sustainable Digital Equity Initiatives.

Our team of California experts shared their perspectives on all things about connecting Californians to opportunity through broadband.  Here are just a few highlights from this important discussion:

We must solve geographic, policy and business issues to get broadband to many underserved areas.

From a business perspective, companies often come into an area and cherry-pick the most potentially lucrative parts of the market, leaving lower income and more remote areas without service.  It can make it difficult for state and federally funded providers to create workable business models serving those “in between” locations.  These locations often include challenging geographies with hills, valleys and gullies, as well as difficulties gaining  environmental permits.  Carefully crafted public / private partnerships can be a solution, though no one entity or solution will work for all areas.  

Local advocacy organizations must keep close watch on the policies and funding eligibility for their communities and work with government leaders to surface inequities and fight for adequate funding.

From a policy perspective, California passed Senate Bill 156, allocating $6B to advancing broadband infrastructure across the state and, for the first time ever, giving counties the right to operate and maintain broadband infrastructure.  This has allowed a unique, community-driven approach to creating networks in rural areas.

Accurate broadband maps are a critical and problematic part of getting infrastructure dollars where they are most needed.

The FCC National Broadband Map determines how billions of dollars in infrastructure funding will be allocated to states, territories and Tribes.

Many locations, including Tribal Lands, are misrepresented in these maps, many of which are based on information from internet service provider (ISP) marketing departments.  Many Tribal Lands are designated as “served” areas because they received licenses for 2.5 Ghz spectrum during recent FCC auctions.  While this spectrum provides one tool for serving these areas, it is inadequate and multiple solutions are needed. As long as Tribal Lands are classified as “served” locations on the FCC National Broadband Map, they may be ineligible for other funding opportunities.  

The mapping data in a number of urban areas and multi-dwelling units is also inaccurate.

Independent groups, such as the National Broadband Mapping Coalition, are doing very good work to identify problems with the FCC’s broadband maps, as well as strategies for correcting those maps during the state challenge process.

Know your state agency or partner if you are building out a middle mile network together.

Partnering on a middle mile network buildout kicks off a deep and long term relationship.  It is important to understand your parter’s experience, expectations and priorities in the following areas:

• Experience in networking.  Do they have experience owning and operating a network or is their expertise in administration?
• Staff and leadership, as well as political and policy priorities.  The balance between pragmatism (on time, on budget program execution) and idealism (services, geography and quality) must always be considered. 
• Expectations for long term network operating and maintenance costs.  If the partner does not have network operating experience, education is a critical component.  You will need content to help your partner understand what it takes to run a carrier class network, buy vs. build vs. borrow options, and the like so that they can make fully informed decisions about the middle mile and how to measure and achieve success.

Fundamentals of successful partnering are critical to delivering the opportunities of the network to everyone.

When asked for one lesson they would like to share with other states, panelists consistently focused on the ingredients for successful partnerships.

• “It takes a village to connect a state. We need to focus further ahead, while addressing legacy solutions. Think about what infrastructure and network will bring and how they will impact adoption and more rapid deployment of whatever those future technologies are.”  Sylvie Wong Cosgrove
• “Instead of just worrying about infrastructure itself, we looked at some of the other root causes of why people can’t access the internet. Affordability, adoption, literacy – these were the problems we solved for.  Collaboration was the key to accelerating the process.”  Kevin Harbour
• “Because rural county representatives sit between the state, where money and programs are, and the local governments that comprise our member counties, where the need is, we can only get this done with partnerships.  We need government, private, and organizational partners at all levels to get everyone up on broadband in an inclusive way.”  Barbara Hayes
• “Often money is spent to fix a specific issue at the local level and we miss the need to interconnect back to the larger telecom world. Without that connection, those last mile investments aren’t effective. If there’s any one thing I’ve learned in this process is that a variety of solutions and corporate partnerships is key.  For any state, the solution set is a complex mix.”  Eric Hunsinger
• “Building networks is a team sport.  Everyone brings a different piece of the puzzle and we need to streamline, make the process more efficient, and create easy access.”  Kim Lewis
• “Successful management is based on trust between partners.  Both parties need to  achieve the balance between idealism and pragmatism.”  Tony  Naughtin
• “Everyone comes to the table with different experiences.  Partners need to manage expectations, leave their egos at the door, and make sure that all efforts focus on the end goal, rather than the individual perspectives.  This only works if we’re all solving for the same goal.”  Matt Rantanen
• “Keep your goal in mind and keep reminding people of that goal when they design programs and policies.  Then you can hold them accountable for designing to the goal, rather than building programs in silos.”  Connie Stewart
  
  

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“We are just entering what may be called ‘the field of vibrations,’ a field in which we may find more wonders than the mind can conceive of.” 

Guglielmo Marconi

When Guglielmo Marconi successfully sent a radio signal in 1895 near his home at Villa Griffone outside of Bologna, who could know that he would lay the foundation for a completely different world?

The Marconi Society is proud to honor the emerging and established innovators that continue to personify Marconi’s technical excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and commitment to humanity.

The Marconi Prize honors scientists and engineers whose work has improved the lives of millions around the world by bringing the opportunities of connectivity to them.  Sometimes called the “Nobel Prize of Communications,” the Marconi Prize honors significant technical, practical, entrepreneurial and humanitarian achievements.

The Paul Baran Young Scholar Awards recognize the world’s leading young researchers who showcase the talent and mindset to be the next Guglielmo Marconi.  The Young Scholar Award can make careers and provides inspiration and support for emerging innovators.

The Marconi Society’s awards are by nomination only.  Please consider your colleagues, students, professors, mentors and others who are creating our connected world and share this opportunity widely with others.

Nominations are open through May 15, 2023.  Please email us at info@marconisociety.org with any questions.

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“The network continues to be a great social equalizer and economic driver.  Advancements that make networks operate together more efficiently and cost effectively will be critical to ensuring that everyone has access to the opportunities of our connected world,” said Vint Cerf, Chair of the Marconi Society. “Our Paul Baran Young Scholars represent the future of information and communications technology and we are honored to welcome Gregory and Rui to the Marconi Society family.”

The Marconi Society’s 2022 Paul Baran Young Scholars are Gregory Tanyi and Rui Zhang. 

Gregory Tanyi is completing his PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Melbourne. He is recognized for his innovations in an on-chip receiver platform that enables direct conversion of wireless signals to optical signals. Tanyi’s breakthrough uses silicon photonics to create an energy  efficient and low cost chip-based solution to interfaces at  very high frequencies without any additional electronics.

Early uses of Tanyi’s innovations include smart cars, which need sensor data to be processed in the optical domain, requiring the merger of communication and sensor functions to minimize processing time delay. His work also supports aerospace applications, which need on-chip solutions to reduce size, weight and power consumption of payloads, and next generation wireless communications which must access millimeter wave frequencies and have full convergence between the optical fiber and wireless segments.

A native of Cameroon, Tanyi’s passion for networking is driven by his belief that a better infrastructure and faster Internet is a game changer for social equity. “The Internet has the power to change cultures by letting people solve their own problems,” says Tanyi. “I am honored to be a Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar to contribute to these positive changes.”

Rui Zhang,  who recently graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Ph.D. degree, is currently a Staff Engineer at MediaTek USA. She is recognized for her innovations of communication systems and ultra-capacity networking techniques to address flexibility, efficiency, and reliability issues. She has been working on these research challenges since 2017 in the NSF-sponsored Center of Fiber-Wireless Integration and Networking (FiWIN) at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of Georgia Tech.

Zhang’s research areas include the design and performance of data center communications, long-haul optical fiber transmission, 6G and beyond radio access networks, and fixed access using fiber wireless integration technologies. Her research will facilitate and support massively connected IoT devices, emerging machine learning applications  and ubiquitous computing in a cost-effective and reliable way.

Zhang’s research focuses on solving complex industry challenges that impact future network products and new service offerings. She is excited to explore the frontier of integrating optical transport systems and heterogeneous high-frequency wireless technologies to enable high-capacity operations. “It is my great honor to receive this award,” Zhang states. “I look forward to being part of the Marconi Society and to working with other Young Scholars to contribute to communications research that makes the world a better-connected community for all the people.”

The Marconi Society will celebrate Tanyi and Zhang, as well as wireless innovator and 2022 Marconi Fellow, Siavash Alamouti, during its annual Gala on November 3 at the University of California at Berkeley. Tickets for the Gala, as well as the accompanying complimentary, virtual Symposium, The Decade of Digital Inclusion, are available here.

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

About the Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

The Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award honors the world’s most innovative young engineers in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Presented to researchers who are 27 years old or younger to commemorate Guglielmo Marconi’s age when he made his first successful wireless transmission, this award recognizes scientists and engineers who have shown extraordinary technical acumen, creativity and promise for using ICT in service of digital inclusion.

The post Gregory Tanyi and Rui Zhang Recognized with Marconi Society 2022 Young Scholar Award appeared first on The Marconi Society.

Our complimentary virtual Symposium will be held November 2-3, 2022. Register here for a keynote session with Marconi Society Fellows and Young Scholars and much more!

The Decade of Digital Inclusion is hosted in partnership with the Institute for Business and Social Impact (IBSI) and Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley.

Ubiquitous affordable access to the Internet and the World Wide Web is now an essential ingredient for a modern education. This is becoming true for health care, as well and for other parts of our everyday lives. 

To help students achieve the educational goals that will open worlds of opportunity to them, we must solve for the unique needs of the education. For example, ubiquitous home access for an elementary school student must be reliable, but we may be able to forgo low latency and extremely high download and upload speeds. While it would be wonderful to provide all students with the highest levels of service against every parameter, the objective of digital inclusion is access for all students. I estimate that service cost would have to be on the order of $5 per month in developed countries like the U.S. to achieve universal service.

The technology is available to provide the service levels and pricing suggested here. The only issue is prioritization.

As technology evolves, the minimum standards for specific applications like education will also evolve. Download speeds of 10 or 20 Mb/sec may be useful today but totally inadequate when augmented and virtual reality become common educational tools.

A curated version of the World Wide Web will eventually become necessary for students and digital newbies. There is already a wide variety of educational tools available today, but there is also skill involved in discriminating between useful tools and false information. Curation can be a difficult problem but ultimately some form will be necessary. If we can have specialized information networks like LEXUS or public radio and TV, why not a curated World Wide Web dedicated to education?

Fewer than half of today’s students have adequate and affordable Internet access, whether because of lack of coverage or because the cost is too high. Technology and political resolve can solve this problem at minimal cost to society.

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Our complimentary virtual Symposium will be held November 2-3, 2022. Register here for a keynote session with Marconi Society Fellows and Young Scholars and much more!

The Decade of Digital Inclusion is hosted in partnership with the Institute for Business and Social Impact (IBSI) and Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley.

In advance of the Symposium, several of our Marconi Fellows shared their thoughts on bringing digital equity into tomorrow’s technology.

By Siavash Alamouti, 2022 Marconi Fellow; Vint Cerf, 1998 Marconi Fellow; and Taher Elgamal, 2019 Marconi Fellow

Achieving true digital equity over the next decade will require interdisciplinary progress in technology, policy and user behavior. We will need to work together across disciplines to successfully drive change. That is why we are looking forward to our November 3 panel at The Decade of Digital Inclusion: Bringing Digital Equity Into Tomorrow’s Technologies.

Here are ten areas that we believe deserve our focus and attention:

1. Improved security at all levels in the architecture of the Internet and World Wide Web

A truly cross functional challenge, the technology that supports this critical work must be informed by social science and the user perspective to arrive at the right balance of security and usability. Ideally, policy makers will weigh in with a light hand to protect consumers online.

2. Counter the amplification of misinformation, disinformation, ransomware, malware, scams in email (spam), social media, web pages

Though tied to the point above, the polarization and threats to civil society posed by deliberate misuse of our communications channels is an issue unto itself. This is very much a social and behavioral science challenge and a place where new business models may be very useful. It is also an issue where the right regulatory touch can provide both a carrot for good business models and a stick for bad behavior.

3. Fragmentation of the connectivity and data sharing capacity of the Internet as a consequence of national policies

The power and benefits of the Internet are diluted when nations make it inaccessible to their residents either as a routine matter or as a consequence of social unrest. Moreover, countries that demand that data be confined to in-country servers diminish the resilience of data replication across data centers in other countries. Free global flow of information facilitated the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We must develop global policy to keep the Internet open and available for all.

4. Increased use of the Internet for surveillance purposes

Between social network applications, mobile phone tracking and Internet of Things monitoring and surveillance, privacy is at great risk. The use of Internet applications often produces “digital exhaust” that facilitates tracking of Internet use and attribution to individuals. Methods and policies that protect personal privacy are needed but must be moderated by the need to hold people accountable for their online behaviors. 

5. Advancing digital inclusion by making the Internet more available, accessible, affordable, sustainable, reliable and useful

As we work to connect the 40% of the planet that does not yet have access to the Internet, the technology to close the gap is there. In the U.S., significant funding is also available. Our focus must be on the mapping and analytics to identify unconnected or inadequately served areas, as well as the policies and economic models that create affordable service at speeds and latencies that support remote learning, work, telehealth and other connected services that improve quality of life. 

6. Improving skills needed to take advantage of Internet access

In addition to supporting the organizations and people that do the on-the-ground work of digital literacy, we look to new business models and community platforms to help drive solutions at scale. Infrastructure funding in the U.S. will ideally push our progress toward this goal forward.

7. Establishing an Internet data economy that ensures data monetization by their rightful owners and broad financial inclusion – nearly half of the people in the world still do not have access to the Internet and to the opportunities it brings. Bringing everyone’s voices and contributions into our networked world requires new business models that put people’s data under their control to create a financially inclusive world.

8. Ensuring the correct identities when needed while maintaining anonymity when required – business models and changing and policy debates are raging around user control of personal data. Both public services and organizational networks must become more flexible to identify and authenticate when necessary and let users select their level of anonymity when possible.

9. Increase collaboration between connected entities to improve the trustworthiness of the fabric. These entities do not have to “fully” trust each other. Just as collaboration in everyday work improves outcomes and creates a more frictionless environment, collaboration between networks can help improve interactions without requiring complete trusted network status.  We will identify more and more use cases and requirements for these collaborations over the next decade.

10. Maintaining the utility of the Internet and World Wide Web despite the challenges above – although there are many challenges with our connected world, the Internet and the World Wide Web continue to underpin the most transformative opportunities of our time. The governance of these assets continues to be paramount and worthy of our support.

We look forward to seeing everyone on November 3, 2022, at The Decade of Digital Inclusion.

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In this article, we interview Dr. Francine Berman, a professor of computer science at the University of Massachusetts who was appointed by President Obama to serve on the National Council on the Humanities in recognition of her leadership within data science and her perspectives on the socio-environmental impact of connected technologies.

Dr. Berman recently co-authored a research article with sociologist Jennifer Lundquist that explores the role of whistleblowers in the technology industry, and examines why so many prominent whistleblowers have been women.

Dr. Berman will also participate in the Marconi Society’s annual symposium and gala, The Decade of Digital Inclusion 2022, as a panelist on the session, Is the Internet Business Model Broken? Balancing User Needs with Business Interests. Learn more about the November 3 event here.

1.       Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.

I’m Director of Public Interest Technology and Stuart Rice Honorary Research Professor at UMass Amherst. I’m leading an all-campus initiative in Public Interest Tech (PIT@UMass) that prepares students to address a wide range of challenges using the tools of modern technology in a socially responsible way. 

Advancing society in the digital age requires us to combine innovation and public-focused social controls. It calls on us to re-focus education and our professional priorities and behavior to more effectively promote the public interest. Our goal with PIT@UMass is to prepare students to be responsible professionals who can help maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of a digital world.

In a way, a public interest focus has been part of every job I’ve ever had. As a faculty researcher and educator, Director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and co-founder of the international Research Data Alliance, promoting the common good has always been a key driver of my work. It’s a pleasure to be focusing on this at UMass Amherst, an outstanding land grant university whose faculty is committed to benefiting the larger world through their teaching and research efforts.

2.      What is your history with the Marconi Society?

I joined the Marconi Board last fall after talking with Vint Cerf and Samantha Schartman-Cycyk. Our focus on digital equity and the digital divide is important to me and a good fit with my interests and experience. I was also delighted to be on the Board when the Marconi Prize was given to Andrea Goldsmith, a friend and colleague from CS. Andrea’s work is really important and it’s great to see her recognized.

3.       Why is digital equity important to you?

We live in a digital world where private sector priorities often over-ride public interest protections. In this world, there is growing disparity with respect to who benefits from technology and who is at risk for exploitation. As digital technologies become more and more ubiquitous, their downside—intrusion, inequity, misinformation, security threats, etc.—must be addressed by companies, understood by customers, and managed by the public sector. If we want to thrive as humans in a socio-technical world, equity, ethics, and the public interest need to be a core part of the equation. How do we make today’s digital technologies equitable? How do we make tech good for us? These questions drive my own interests and professional priorities.

4.       What inspired you to make a donation to the Marconi Society?

My donation to Marconi was part of my commitment as a Board member to support the organization and its good work. I think that this is important. When I was Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Anita Borg Institute (focused on promoting the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in tech), we also asked the Board to donate to the organization. We had both student Board members and C-suite Board members from Silicon Valley’s largest companies. All gave what they could to show their commitment to the organization and all of it was meaningful. The Marconi Society takes this same approach and I’m happy to be one of its donors.

5.       How do you hope to impact the world through philanthropy? 

I am just beginning to think through my own approach to philanthropy. Like many, I’ve started at home, trying to share my resources with my children to contribute to their future and level the playing field in an economic environment that is particularly challenging for today’s millennials. With respect to the broader community, I focus on contributions to groups that are trying to make an impact, and who will provide resources that create greater opportunity and a more level playing field. I’m always happy to see philanthropic investment in research and education to complement federal investments as I believe that these are fundamental to societal advancement. 

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1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your company.

In 1998, when I was a professor of applied mathematics at MIT’s Laboratory for Computer Science (now called the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory), my graduate student, Danny Lewin, and I founded a company called Akamai to solve what people back then called the “world wide wait.”  Akamai was a pioneer in content delivery, which means that we delivered web content on behalf of major web sites to users all around the world. Since then, the company has evolved into one of the most essential and trusted cloud delivery and cybersecurity platforms. Many of the world’s best brands and enterprises use our massively distributed global platform to build, accelerate and secure their digital experiences. Our mission is to power and protect life online. And our purpose in doing that is to make life better for billions of people, billions of times a day. For the first 14 years of Akamai’s history, I served as chief scientist. For the last 10 years, I’ve been the company’s CEO. Both roles have given me a great opportunity to help guide innovation at a very innovative company, one that is full of brilliant and highly talented engineers from all over the world.

2. What is your history with the Marconi Society?

In 2018, the Marconi Society honored me with the Marconi Prize for contributions to technology and the establishment of content delivery networks. It was a special honor for me personally, having worked in the field for as long as I have and knowing so much about the accomplishments of previous Marconi Prize winners. Since then, I’ve had the privilege to become more involved in the Society’s activities, which are helping to shape the future of communication and our lives.  

3. Why is digital equity important to you?

When you look at the demographic of people employed in tech, you can’t help but see that we have a long way to go as an industry, and as a society, to open the doors of opportunity to everyone. Equal opportunity is fundamentally important. As a teacher who has had the privilege to teach so many brilliant students over the years, I believe that individual talent is precious, and that people of diverse backgrounds can make substantial contributions to our industry and our lives if we give them the opportunity. That’s why we created something called the Akamai Technical Academy. It’s an in-house educational program that trains non-technical professionals from populations that are underrepresented in the tech industry to prepare them for technical careers. The success we have had with the program demonstrates what people are capable of achieving if given a chance.

4. What inspired you to donate to the Marconi Society?

The Marconi Society connects and supports innovators who are connecting the world. At a time when the world is under threat from the challenges of climate change, war, disease, cyber attacks and inequality, we need better ways to stay connected, and to help the next generation inherit a better world.

5. How do you hope to impact the world through philanthropy? 

I’ve been personally committed to increasing and inspiring the pipeline of students pursuing STEM careers, first as a mathematics professor at MIT and now in my role at Akamai. I try to encourage the next generation of technology innovators by supporting STEM education, with a focus on the pursuit of excellence in mathematics in grades K-12, whether through efforts such as The Akamai Foundation, The Center for Excellence in Education, the Society for Science and the Public (which sponsors the Regeneron Science Search), The Mathematical Association of America (which sponsors the Math Olympiad), the Math Competition for Girls, and Girls Who Code (which we host every summer at Akamai). Math programs that reach students at a young age can inspire them to embrace math and realize that math can be magical and fun. This can later lead to exciting careers dedicated to solving problems in ways that, ultimately, can make life better for millions, if not billions, of people on our planet. My passion is really about encouraging the next generation of innovators that can make our world a better place for all.

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