There are so many products and materials that are used on a daily basis that are taken for granted. I have not stopped to think about how many things are made or who came up with the different technologies. We all learned about famous inventors from the past who played a role in discovering different life changing things, but it is rare to hear about the inventors of modern technological advancements.

I started thinking about this because my nephew was involved in the development of a product that helps make the bullet proof vest more effective. He has a degree in chemical engineering. When he was in his senior year he was working on his thesis. During the process he found a way to increase the strength of vexlar, the material that is used to make a bullet proof vest. The material always had an incredible amount of strength up and down; however it was not strong going back and forth. This meant that the vest had to be woven in the same direction and then sewing together so the material had to be double. This made for extremely effective protection; however this also meant that a bullet proof vest was heavy and hot to wear. When my nephew discovered a way make the material bullet proof in both directions this meant that vests could be made less bulky. This also meant that more law enforcement officials would be willing to wear them on a routine basis because they were more comfortable.

As a result of his discovery my nephew was given a fellowship to the university to complete his master’s degree. In exchange for the fellowship he was asked to sign over the patent rights to the material. This meant that the university was granted the patent and the proceeds from the aerial. My nephew explained that this is done all the time at universities especially in chemical research as well as medical research. The university has the means and contacts to distribute a new invention and the offer of a free education is difficult for a person to pass up. My nephew is fine with the arrangement that he made with the university. His goal was to improve a material, which he did. He is glad that more law enforcement officials are going to be protected more comfortably as a result of his work. He is also pleased that he will not have the huge debt of graduate school to face once he has completed his education. He feels everyone is winning in this arrangement.