Everyday Hero

A former Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana, Amy Smith, 41, designs for developing communities. The mechanical engineer credits an untidy mind for her ability to solve complex development problems. Her inventions include a screenless grain mill, an IV fluid clamp, water purification technology, a charcoal-making scheme using agricultural waste instead of wood, and a phase-change incubator for water quality and medical testing. Smith teaches a yearlong globe-trotting course in sustainable design at MIT that involves projects in Haiti, Honduras, Brazil, Mexico, Samoa, India, Lesotho, Zambia, and China. Last fall, she was awarded a $500,000 MacArthur Foundation "genius grant."

For real - how is this not inspiring? Read the full interview with ID here.

Botswana RPCV Amy Smith wins MIT prize for design