Recognizing Stanford Ovshinsky
Floor Speech
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Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I wish to recognize Mr. Stanford Ovshinsky, on the occasion of his induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Mr. Ovshinsky, the eldest son of working-class Jewish parents in Akron, OH, displayed an early conviction to improving the lives of all Americans. This conviction inspired a lifelong dedication to advancing labor rights, civil rights, and civil liberties. Despite no formal education after receiving his high school diploma, Mr. Ovshinsky became one of the 20th century's most prolific inventors. His vision and concern for the greater good led to over 400 patents, including major contributions to flexible solar panels, computer memory, flat-screen TV displays, and the development of the nickel-metal hydride battery.
Mr. Ovshinsky's belief in the ability of science and technology to advance environmental stewardship and quality of life was rooted in his experience as a member of the Workmen's Circle, a Jewish fraternal organization committed to community, an enlightened Jewish culture, and social justice since it was established in 1900. The Workmen's Circle inspired Mr. Ovshinsky to pursue science and develop advanced technology dedicated to heightening economic opportunity and improving people's relationship with the environment around the world. After starting his career as a toolmaker in Akron, Mr. Ovshinsky moved to Detroit in 1952, where he was director of research at the Hupp Corporation and established General Automation with his younger brother, Herb Ovshinsky.
At General Automation, Mr. Ovshinsky continued his research on intelligent machines, as well as early work on various information and energy technologies. He was invited by Wayne State University to conduct research at the university's neuroscience lab, where he discovered the connection between the amorphous structure of brain cells and amorphous glassy materials. This discovery encouraged Mr. Ovshinsky and his brother to construct the Ovitron, a mechanical model of a nerve cell constructed of thin layers of amorphous material, creating the first nanostructure, and establishing the foundation of his research for decades.
Following his experience at General Automation, Mr. Ovshinsky founded Energy Conversion Devices in 1960 with Iris Dibner, who would become his wife and partner for over 50 years. It was at Energy Conversion Devices that he established Ovonics--the process of turning glassy, thin films into semiconductors with the application of low voltage--and developed new electronic and optical switches, including Ovonic Phase Change Memory and the Threshold Switch. These became the basis for the invention of rewritable CDs and DVDs, as well as the cognitive computer. Mr. Ovshinsky's work also revolutionized the construction of solar panels and resulted in the nickel-metal hydride battery, which became an important power source for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, industrial equipment, and telecommunications.
Time Magazine celebrated Mr. Ovshinsky as a ``Hero for the Planet'' in 1991. In 2006, The Economist recognized him as the ``Edison of our age.'' At the time of his death in 2012, he was credited on more than 300 publications and had received over 20 major awards and honorary degrees. Throughout his life, however, Mr. Ovshinsky displayed as much vigor for fighting for justice outside his laboratory as within. His efforts contributed to the introduction of affordable housing in his affluent neighborhood in Birmingham, MI, and he was a proud member of the Mechanist's Union, as well as an early supporter of Walter P. Reuther and the United Auto Workers. It is an honor to recognize someone whose work not only helped usher the world into the modern age, but was also based in a belief that each of us has a responsibility to serve our community and leave the world a better place for generations to come.
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