Live-blogging Bill Gates
I am listening to and liveblogging Bill Gates who is unveiling two problems that he thinks are important to work on because, as he notes, market systems do not address these issues. As an optimist, as he said, he has seen progress -- the increase in life expectancy and the decline in child death rates, notably. The key reason why people live longer and kids die less is the advancement in disease control -- from measles vaccination to malaria control.
The first problem: How do we stop Malaria? Malaria has been, over the course of human history, a huge problem. Malaria was ubiquitous everywhere in the world until pesticides and quinine slowed the spread, and eradicated it from countries in the temperate North. So now Malaria is a disease of the global south, and as such, is not a disease that attracts large investments. At the same time is saps the economies of nations, and the livelihoods of tens of millions of people.
Gates then proceeded to release a few moscquitos -- just so that TEDsters also can get the full malaria experience.
Gates notes the success of Bednets (incidentally one of the more interesting mobile fundraising campaigns that I have seen).The Gates Foundation supports the development of a vaccine. But malaria resistance is rising around the world, requiring constant vigilance and new tools. But it's not enough, as Gates not. There needs to be hype, good commmunication to tell the success stories, simulation, drug companies, and ongoing commitment.
The second question: How do you make a teacher great? Why is this important? Teachers have a ripple effect inspiring and educating great students who go on to do great things -- a must-have in a competitive economy. How bad are things? 30% of people drop out of school, in ethnic minority communities it can be as high as 50%.
Gates notes that his foundation has worked on education for while. The focus so far has been investing into small schools but his focus is now on the quality of teachers. And the result of having great teachers is remarkable. A top-quartile teacher will increase the performance of her class by 10% every year, for example.
So what is being a great teacher associated with? The conclusion is simple: Some people are VERY good at teaching. The strongest indicator of good teaching is past good teaching -- but no one has quite figured out what makes a great teacher, and how to make teachers great. Gates notes the teaching quality of the KIPP schools as one place where teachers receive intensive training and feedback, where there is constant data collection on the quality of teaching to improve their performance.
Gates bemoans how little data collection and feedback there is in most school districts - which is, in fact, restricted by some union contracts. But with cheap digital technology, teachers could be recorded their classes, and receive feedback and guidance on what they do well and where there need to be improvements. He notes that there were some funds in the Stimulus Bill in Congress or data collection that have been taken out in the Senate version.
He concludes with a call to action: The private sector does not naturally put money into these issues. It is people like us - the people in the room, the bright, innovative crowd that gets those things done that are not usually the focus of attention.
In the question and answer session, Gates comments on the bleak economic situation, coming out of Davos. He notes that there is no doubt that there will be three-some years that "will be very tough." In past economic problems, aid to deveoping countries was the first to be cut, but he hopes that this time, with the increased emphasis on Africa this will not be the case this time.
Gates has been critized to create a monolopy of ideas. He emphasizes the diversity of ideas needed, and the breadth of people involved. In fact, he notes, that he is open to suggestions any time.
A question of the audience: Are you not increasing the population of the planet with your work? Gates describes how important this question is and, rebutting it, notes that there is, in fact, a perfect correlation in imporved health and population decline -- and there is a solid data on this effect.
And here is what Bill Gates says about when asked about what should be written on his tombstone: "No one optimizes for a good funeral or nice epitaph." And, "I want to live a long time.....These are amazing issues and they are fun to work on. And it's magic to achieve ambitious goals."
