Mar 11, 2011 - Claremont, CA -

Students and faculty at Harvey Mudd College enjoyed the undivided attention of computer scientist and philanthropist Bill Gates Thursday, March 10, 2011. Gates spent four hours on the HMC campus meeting with President Maria Klawe, having a casual lunch with students and listening to faculty and student research presentations.

Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corp. and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, arrived on the HMC campus at noon, the first stop during his visit to Claremont that also included a visit to Pomona College and a talk in Bridges Auditorium at 5 p.m.

Gates enjoyed an In-N-Out burger lunch (a favorite of his) with six mathematics and computer science students at Garrett House, Klawe's home on campus. Sarah Ferraro '12, a computer science major, said, "We shared a bit of our culture with him (prank stories, dorm life), and he was interested to hear about our academics: classes, Clinic and future careers."

The other HMC students in attendance at the lunch were Samantha Mesuro '11, Erin Coughlan '14, Bea Metitiri '12, Nicholas Card '11, Maksym Taran '12, Dan Fielder '11 and Andrew Turner '14.

After lunch, President Klawe escorted Gates to Hoch Shanahan Dining Commons where he was treated to six presentations, chosen to align with Gates' interests in global health and education, and HIV/AIDS research. Alice Conant '12 discussed her work on a project called Energy for Health that she is undertaking with University of Pennsylvania Professor of Medicine and Computer Science Harvey Rubin. The Energy for Health project connects access to vaccines and clean water in developing countries with access to the fastest spreading technology in the world: cell phones.

Other student presenters and their faculty advisers included Athena Anderson '11, Ashley Kretsch '13 and chemistry Professor Karl Haushalter, "Lasting inhibition of HIV-AIDS by lentiviral-mediated delivery of small interfering RNA"; Brendan Folie '11 and physics Professor Tom Donnelly, "Downsizing Fusion: Creating optimal conditions for laser-driven fusion"; and Wynn Vonnegut '12, Sven Wijtmans '12 and physics Professor Peter Saeta, "Enhancing absorption in thin-film solar cells." Pomona College students who made presentations were Daniel Low '11 "Tuberculosis Demographics of Kenya" and Susannah Gibbs '11, "Curriculum Design for HIV Education: Programs in Northern Tanzania."

"It's great to see the energy, the optimism," Gates said later of the presentations. "Some of the projects will succeed in having a meaningful impact. The depth of work being done—I'd usually think of that as graduate work. One of the great assets of the United States is the higher education system, including institutions like the ones here. It makes me optimistic about the future."

Gates spent the rest of the time on the HMC campus in discussions with faculty about HMC's recent curriculum revision and the College's mathematics education outreach. Students Ryan Muller '11 and Neal Pisenti '11 and CIO Joseph Vaughn described Learnstream, an innovative online learning platform.

After a private discussion with Klawe, Gates made his way to Bridges Auditorium for "A Conversation with Bill Gates," where Klawe served as host for the discussion that covered topics ranging from his Foundation's goal to eradicate polio, developments in the fight against AIDS, the U.S. healthcare system, and what major he would choose today if he were college age. Questions from students elicited further comments from Gates about the Dream Act, the billionaire Giving Pledge, defense spending, innovative agricultural developments, and his suggestions for how students can best select and serve a cause. The event was co-sponsored by the Pomona College Distinguished Speakers Series and the Harvey Mudd College Annenberg Speakers Series.

Klawe, fifth president of Harvey Mudd College and a member of the board of Microsoft Corporation, was instrumental in bringing Gates to Claremont. A renowned computer scientist and scholar, she is the first woman to lead the college since its founding in 1955. She has spearheaded the strategic planning initiative, "HMC 2020: Envisioning the Future," resulting in key accomplishments that include an increase in female students, a revised core curriculum and a new teaching and learning building.

Gates is founder and former CEO of Microsoft. The tech visionary and business entrepreneur's leadership—fueled by his long-held dream that millions might realize their potential through software—made Microsoft a personal computing powerhouse and household name. In summer of 2008, Gates left his day-to-day role with Microsoft to focus on philanthropy. Maintaining that all lives have equal value no matter where they're being lived, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donates to expand opportunity to the world's most disadvantaged people. Collaborating with grantees and partners, the Foundation is focused on programs in global health and education, HIV/AIDS, libraries and agriculture research. Gates is an avid student and investor in new energy approaches, fueled by his interest in global development and innovation. He is also a member of the board of directors of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.