The MIT Enterprise Forum at Tel Aviv University

I was connected through the MISTI program at MIT (which is how I got this internship) with a mentor. I have yet to meet him, but he suggested in an email that I go to this MIT Enterprise Forum yesterday which took place here on TAU campus. He suggested some other people for me to meet there, which I did and it was good. The morning consisted of presentations by twelve startups and twelve established small and medium enterprises, from Europe and Israel who are competing for a prize--it's the Global Security Challenge. Their products ranged from facial recognition software to take the place of usernames and passwords, to counter-terrorist diver-detection technology for protection of ports and other vulnerable water/land access points, to imaging technology that can accurately 'fix' digital images where fog or rain renders the view through the camera too obscured to be useful, to privacy-respecting surveillance systems of which the image is clear except for the humans which are pixelated beyond recognition to the view of the security guard, but able to be decrypted should the need arise. In addition to explaining their product and technology, they were asked to compare it to competitors and describe how its technology eclipses similar products, then in what sector the prize money would be used for further development.

It was fascinating to see all of these technologies and think about how they have and continue to revolutionize our everyday lives. It is inspiring to see creative minds taking action and making progress, but it also is very sobering to think about this topic and what it means in the broader scheme of things. Economic growth and technological advancement are so intertwined with security. It made me recall Eisenhower's words of warning about the military-industrial complex.

"This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together." Dwight D. Eisenhower, Exit Speech, 1961

The military-industrial--and now security--complex is alive and well and continues to prosper, all things seeming to lead into the pockets of a few giants with a stranglehold on the industry and political lobby to match. Not to downplay the importance of security, but I think we have become distracted, and in so doing, fail to honestly consider the idea of being alert and knowledgeable citizens.

On a lighter note, and to expose myself as one who is distracted as I mentioned--not even by the heavy things in life like unemployment, but by the frivolous--the lunch served at the forum was glorious! The gears spinning in my head turned from the security industry to my palate. The program said "lunch break: wine and cheese." This was no Costco cheese platter. A cheese artisan who owns a store in town had a table, spread over with a copious array of cheese wheels, logs, and bricks. He had sizeable cutting boards where he was slicing up the lambs’ milk cheese infused with apricots, figs, herbs, and a 12-month aged type as well. Next to the cheese was a pile of sliced starfruits--from his garden! Excellent pairing. You can imagine my face and demeanor as I flitted about the room. It would have been fitting if i were wearing a tutu. Another table had fresh cream cheeses with peppers or herbs, drizzled with olive oil and served with crackers. Another table had sprawling mountains (like when you try to make a castle out of dry sand) of many types of cheese and at the back, the wine table--a cabernet was being served. It was all so dreamlike and wonderful. My only regret was that my stomach has shrunken as I have been eating meagerly since I got here, so I couldn't gorge myself as I would have done in the past. All’s for the best really.