read our latest
Message from the Chair
In January 1925 there was an eclipse that you could partially see in Buffalo NY, not unlike what is happening on April 8, 2024. It is interesting to note the changes that occurred in the world after the last eclipse, focusing on the time period of five years of that date. It is also interesting to take stock of the changes in the US and the world in the last one hundred years.
In 1925, 832,520 people lived in Erie and Niagara counties. Despite the mass exodus from our area in the 70’s, 80s, and 90s, 1.15 million people live here now. The US population in 1925 was 116 million people (roughly) and today the US population is about 342 million. In 1925, 22 to 25% of households owned a car. Today 92% of households own a car. In 1925, 6000 people took commercial airline flights in the world. In 2023 863,000,000 passengers boarded an airplane somewhere on the planet.
In the five years after the 1925 eclipse, it was a time of turbulence but also a time of hope not unlike today. From 1925-1930 there were major life changing inventions and innovations:
- Liquid fueled rockets were invented
- The analog computer was invented
- The jet engine was invented
- The iron lung was invented
- Penicillin was discovered
- The frozen food process was perfected
- Transatlantic telephony became possible
While we cannot predict the specific inventions that will manifest moving forward, there are areas to keep an eye on from 2024 to 2029.
- AI driven biomedical discoveries.
- Next-gen batteries that could power our everyday world.
- Green hydrogen as fuel
- Personalized nutrition based upon your genetics and other factors.
- Blockchain for healthcare data, retail tracking, and energy management
- Space tourism and exploration
Oh my, how the times have changed. Yet we all know that life is a continuum and that we build on the efforts of those that came before us, as well as add to what was discovered in the past.
Enjoy the eclipse and time with your family and friends. Use the event as an inflexion point, and perhaps take an introspective moment to consider where the world goes from here. What will it be like in 2144 (the next time an eclipse like this one occurs), six generations from now and 120 years after the founding of the Empire AI Institute at UB? What role will each of us play in the future of our society, our country, and our university? In 1846, some 9 generations ago, UB’s founders plotted the course for what was envisioned to be a bright future for medical students in the Buffalo area. They would be gobsmacked to see the depth and breadth of what has transpired here since “their watch”.
Be well, give it ample thought, and enjoy the light show!
Don Erb, Chairman UB Professional Staff Senate
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