by E.M.Robinson

Created on: May 16, 2008   Last Updated: December 09, 2008

Perhaps making Boston a science and technolgy hub is yet another accomplishment we can credit to Benjamin Franklin. Since Franklin's time, the list of science and technology greats would be a long list, but certainly Massachusetts' Institute of Technology's (M.I.T.) legendary "Fathers" would be on the list as having helped to establish Boston as a science and technology hub. Here are just 3 of the many leaders who are a credit to the Boston scientific and technological communityh:

William Redington Hewlett '36
Electronics Pioneer and Founder of Hewlett-Packard

Robert M. Metcalfe '68
Father of Ethernet and Founder of 3Com

Robert A. Swanson '70 (1947-1999)
Father of the Biotechnology Industry

If you are in the Boston area and near M.I.T. and you are looking for a family attraction for the science and technology minded, visit the M.I.T Museum Main Exhibition Center
This is the place for hands-on and interactive exhibits at a great price.

Another gem in Boston's science and technology crown is their Museum of Science.New exhibits are being added all the time and here's a listing of some of what's there currently:

-A Bird's World
-Bees
-Beyond the X-ray - Medical imaging technologies
-Butterfly Garden - conservatory, overlooking the Charles Rive filled with exotic plants.
-Cahners ComputerPlace - Control a robot - Peek inside computers - Get involved in cutting-edge research - Communicate with Artificial Intelligence -
-Catching the Wind - Wind turbines and wind energy technology
-Dinosaurs
-Discovery Center - for children- fun, hands-on activities that are designed to encourage discovery through play.
-Earth
-Frontiers of Biotechnology
-Human Body Connection
-Human Evolution
-Innovative Engineers
-Mapping the World Around Us
-Mathematica
-Seeing Is Deceiving
-Sun Power
-The Computing Revolution

In additonal to museums and universities, Boston is home to many business firms such as Merck. When it comes to Boston's science and technology leaders and a discussion of Merck, those interested in Boston's tradition of scientist leadership would have to include the name Max Tishler who was a scientist at Merck & Co.

Tishler led the research teams that synthesized ascorbic acid, riboflavin, cortisone, pyridoxin, pantothenic acid, nicotinamide, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan. He also led a microbiological group that developed the fermentation processes for actinomycin D, vitamin B12, streptomycin, and penicillin. Tishler invented sulfaquinoxaline for the treatment for coccidiosis.

Born in Boston

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