Through her National Governors Association (NGA) initiative Innovation America Governor Napolitano has engaged her fellow Governors, business leaders, educators, and others to create and implement policies to make the states more competitive in the global marketplace. In an effort to recognize businesses, school initiatives, individuals, and government entities that are making strides to promote Arizona in the global economy, the Governor has established the “Arizona Innovation Awards.” These will be presented statewide to those who are creating new products that improve the quality of life for our citizens and entities that are incorporating math, science, and technology into the course of everyday business. To nominate a business school, initiative government agency or individual, please provide the information requested in this online form. Winners will be contacted by phone. On-Line Nomination Form
National Governors Association
NEWS RELEASES:
Governor Kicks Off 'Arizona Innovation Awards'
Provista Life Sciences Receives Arizona Innovation Award
Governor Gives Arizona Innovation Award to Kingman Regional Medical Center
Whirlwind tour for Governor*
<FLASH VIDEO - /doclib/commune/zeroenergybig2.swf>
Click play to see 2-minute video presentation
(High bandwidth-Cable/DSL) Click here (Low bandwidth-56k)
Governor Presents “Arizona Innovation Award”
2nd self-sufficient home introduced*
Governor Presents Arizona Innovation Award to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Governor Recognizes Critical Path Institute
C-Path garners AZ Innovation Award*
* print coverage
|
Gov.: 'U of A rocks' with innovator
Sticker that tells when fruit is ripe earns accolades*
Tucson Citizen
By LA MONICA EVERETT-HAYNES lmhaynes@tucsoncitizen.com
Published: 03.22.2007
This is what it feels like to be the big fig.
Of all the individuals, corporations, organizations, government entities, schools and education initiatives that could have been Gov. Janet Napolitano's first Innovation Awards winner, it went to University of Arizona professor Mark R. Riley.
The esteem comes because of the RediRipe sticker Riley and his team spent five years developing to determine when fruit is ripe.
"Grocery stores can say, 'We have the best meat and the freshest fruits and vegetables,' " said Riley, the project's principal investigator. "This is a way to verify that."
The award is a "tremendous" milestone for Riley, who stammered several times while trying to describe how thrilled he was.
"I am honored and very humbled by this award," said Riley, a UA agriculture and biosystems engineering professor for 10 years. "I am accepting this award not as an individual, but as part of a team" of researchers.
A number of Riley's colleagues and his wife, Jill, sat in the audience smiling as he received his accolades Wednesday at UA.
The award brings much-desired recognition to UA innovation while emphasizing the importance of global competitiveness, officials said Wednesday.
"Arizona needs to be a state of innovators," Napolitano said.
As the National Governors Association chairwoman, she has pushed the need for ingenious ideas and inventions.
She launched "Innovation Arizona," a partnership between the public and private sectors to boost science and technology.
The Innovation Awards program will periodically recognize those in Arizona improving science, math and technology and who are also innovative and entrepreneurial.
Napolitano said, "We also want to make sure Arizona is a place that fosters innovation," which she called "the new pioneer spirit."
Before handing Riley his award, Napolitano said he "is an excellent example of an Arizona innovator." Then she turned to the audience and said, "U of A rocks."
RediRipe, which has earned Riley a good deal of national attention, is "a science and an art," Napolitano said.
The sticker determines the level of ethylene in apples, pears, tomatoes, certain melons, avocados and other fruit. The more ethylene, the riper the fruit.
Over two days, the sticker will change from white to blue, signifying that the fruit is ready to be plucked from its branch and eaten or moved away from unripened fruit.
"It goes by the saying that one bad apple spoils the bunch," Riley said. "It's really true."
Stickers should reach growers in one year and consumers in two, said Riley, who celebrated his 38th birthday last week.
Each will cost about a penny.
Riley's foot-tall glass trophy, with a globe set in toward its top, bears an inscription thanking him for "advancing Arizona in the global economy."
Riley tried to muffle the buzz.
"It's going to have an impact on people in a small way," said Riley, whose team continues its research. "We're not curing cancer here."
Hearing that, Napolitano said, "It may not be curing cancer, but doesn't an apple a day keep the doctor away?"
Paul Allvin, UA's interim vice president for external relations, said the stickers could "revolutionize" the agriculture, grocery and shipping industries. |