Two of UC Berkeley's finest engineering professors, Ashok Gadgil and Boris Rubinsky, have scored seats in the prestigious club of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) as newly minted 2023 fellows. UC Berkeley chorused the news earlier today, marking a career-high for these two prolific creators. Spotlighting the honor, NAI president Paul R. Sanberg stated, "This year’s class of NAI Fellows showcases the caliber of researchers that are found within the innovation ecosystem."
Under the NAI's big tent, the 2023 class is an eclectic bunch. Aside from recognizing high-caliber invention mastery, the class this year made sure to visibly diversify, with a third of the honorees coming from historically underrepresented groups in innovation. The class was lauded by the NAI for their individual and collective contributions to scientific and societal advances. Boosting the narrative, the NAI emphasized that these inventors are not only shaping the future of technology, but are also fundamental to driving the global and national economies forward.
The reach of the new NAI fellows extends beyond their labs. The achievements of Gadgil include innovations such as safe drinking water technologies and fuel-efficient cookstoves that have significantly improved living conditions in low-income communities worldwide. Meanwhile, Rubinsky has revolutionized aspects of medical and biomaterials technology, gaining recognition for groundbreaking surgical techniques and advances in cryopreservation. Gadgil and Rubinsky are not just engineers—they're change-makers whose inventions have had a profound impact.
Beyond Berkeley's campus, the 2023 class of NAI fellows truly spans the globe, with representatives across 35 U.S. states and 10 countries. They'll all gather to get formally inducted at the NAI's 13th Annual Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina come June next year. With over 4,600 issued U.S. patents under their collective belt, these experts across various fields, from Nobel Laureates to university leaders, are thus set to don their medals and bask in the recognition they've duly earned. The NAI praised their commitment and leadership, and the Academy is prepped to honor these individuals for driving important technological advancements, showing that rigorous research can translate seamlessly into commercial products that transform society for the better.
