Case: Air Bags

Air Bags

More than 35 years after helping develop air bags for automobiles, retired scientist Carl Clark, well into his 70s is still doing whatever he can to promote their appropriate use and improvement. Recent concern about dangers air bags pose for young children riding in front seats lags more than 30 years behind the warnings Clark issued in the 1960s. He is now advocating air bags on bumpers, and he has even invented wearable air bags for the elderly to prevent broken hips. He does not expect his ideas to make him wealthy. (The bumper air bags were patented by someone else.) He says, "I get paid for about a quarter of my time--the other three quarters is thinking about the future." In 1971 Clark patented a retrorocket braking system that (theoretically) prevents car crashes at 50 mph by shooting a rocket in front of the car before it goes into its skid. Acknowledging that there still are unsolved problems with this device, he nevertheless believes it is worth pursuing further. "At the beginning of the auto safety business," he comments, "we all said to run the tests to higher speeds as quickly as possible. And the government has not done that; the industry is too powerful." What motivates Carl Clark’s continued efforts? Noting that many of his relatives were missionaries, he says that he grew up with the belief that he should leave the world in better shape than he found it.

Discuss Carl Clark’s attitude toward his work (even in retirement). Compare it with yours.

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