JPL a leader in science, technology

Pasadena Star News  

By: Cynthia Kurtz  
Posted 11/20/2013

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's annual report for 2012 begins with a question. "Can it get any better than this?" It was posed by JPL's Director, Charles Elachi, regarding the defining moment on August 5, 2012 when the mission team, the San Gabriel Valley and the world knew that Curiosity, the Mars Rover, had safely landed on the Red Planet. 

This week they did it again with the flawless launch of MAVEN - a spacecraft that will investigate the atmosphere of Mars when it arrives next September.

This epic began in 1936 when a team of Caltech students and researchers was asked to conduct its experiments "somewhere else” after an unfortunate explosion on campus. They chose an isolated area near the San Gabriel Mountains. It was a humble beginning for what was to become the most prestigious space exploration center in the world.

Today JPL, a NASA laboratory managed by the California Institute of Technology, is well known as a pioneer in space exploration. JPL's impressive resume of technological innovations has transformed not only our region but our world.

Since launching the Explorer 1 satellite in 1958, JPL has reached into the uncharted depths of the universe.  

Voyagers 1 and 2, the only man-made objects to ever leave the solar system, were built and are still operated by JPL. Now in their fourth decade of exploration, the Voyagers have passed the farthest planets in our solar system and continue to send back information about the previously unexplored places in space through the antennas of the global Deep Space Network which is also managed by JPL.

Through its innovative work in robotic space exploration, JPL has become a world leader in science and technology. Tools developed for space explorations provide us the opportunity to learn more about our own planet, its climate, oceans, geology and atmosphere.  

NASA has announced two future Mars missions for JPL - InSight that will study the planet's interior in 2016 and a major new rover in 2020.  

Under the leadership of Charles Elachi the 5,000 geniuses and rocket scientists who work at JPL are sure to excite, surprise and make all of us in the San Gabriel Valley proud as they plan these new missions. 

State needs to put out the welcome sign

Pasadena Star News  

By: Cynthia Kurtz  
Posted 11/06/2013

California has more manufacturing jobs than any other state in the country. While many jobs have disappeared - victims of off-shore relocations, wooed by other states or forced to close during the recession - the state still has significant manufacturing strength. Nearly one in every 10 California jobs is in manufacturing. 

The San Gabriel Valley continues to be a center for manufacturing with 54,500 manufacturing jobs. While far less than the 96,000 positions in 2000, this is still a major part of our economy. The importance of manufacturing jobs cannot be overstated. The positions pay above average wages, offer opportunities to employees without college degrees and create wealth for the region.

Recently, there have been a lot of conversations about manufacturing jobs coming back to California and many believe that the best prospects are in high-tech manufacturing - technology driven industries such as communications, electronics, defense and aerospace. But California isn’t the only state that is looking to attract and retain high-tech manufacturing jobs. If we are going to be successful, we need to work together and there needs to be a plan.

That is where California Forward and the California Stewardship Network come in. They have been holding regional Summits for business and civic leaders to talk about middle-class job growth and regional economics. Through these discussions advanced manufacturing was identified as a priority and a plan was developed that highlights five steps:

1.  "Create a “California Campaign for Manufacturing” Campaign" - Let advanced manufacturing companies know that we want them here. Often California is labeled “unfriendly.” If we want high-tech manufacturing, let’s tell them. Simple but effective.

 

2." Make California Regulations a Competitive Advantage" - Not as straight forward as

    creating the campaign but it is true that business don’t just compete on products and

    price. In the high-tech world, customers also care about social responsibility and the

    environment. California has some of the strictest regulations in the nation. How can

    companies use this to be more competitive?

3.  "Promote Innovative Manufacturing Partnerships" - California is a big state with a variety of unique regions. Each region has its own assets - universities, community colleges, communities and businesses. These groups need to identify and focus on their high tech manufacturing clusters.

4.  "Support Manufacturing Skills" - Training programs that meet the skills of a region’s high tech manufacturing industry are critical if businesses are to grow.

5.  "Promote Exports and Direct Investments" - No state can beat Southern California when it comes to exports and direct foreign investment opportunities. We have the Ports, airports, Foreign Trade Zones and EB-5 program. They all work together to support exporting and foreign investments.

The next California Economic Summit is on November 7- 8, 2013 at the LA Hotel Downtown, 333 S Figueroa St. This meeting will focus on implementing the plans.  Check it out at www.caeconomy.org/summit. It's not too late to be involved.