With regard to technology, the term progress seems almost abstract; however, it becomes very real when we connect it to faces and people. Then, suddenly, certain people stand out, and they can become heroes of progress. Those are the people around us motivating, inspiring, driving, or protecting progress. It may be your physics teacher, university classmate, or attending doctor. The people around us are the real heroes of progress since there wouldn’t be the human expression of it without them.
ESET has decided to highlight these heroes in its global search for the faces behind the most important demonstrations of progress in the 21st century. We are creating a roll call of heroes across a wide range of academic, business, and social spheres that characterise positive change with respect to our digital progress. The roll call will be launched in September 2022 and will celebrate the stories of human progress worldwide.
We want you to nominate someone you believe deserves to be mentioned in our list for their contribution to progress and development! We have curated a list of heroes to help better understand the connection between human progress and the role technology plays in it. Meet Mimi Ito, a PhD anthropologist who studies how technology influences new forms of youth culture (in Japan). (Meet more heroes at the bottom.)
Nominations are now open!
You may nominate yourself, or with their permission, someone else. You/they must demonstrate the human face of technological progress and work in one of these industries:
- Arts & creative industries
- Business
- Digital security
- Education
- Energy & sustainability
- Financial services
- Food & agriculture
- Healthcare & life sciences
- Logistics
- Manufacturing
- Research & development
- Science
- Sport
- Smart cities, IoT & IT
- Transport & travel
Your nominations will be reviewed by a panel of experts in technology and industry from the categories mentioned above. From these, our panel will curate the final list of Heroes of Progress, which will be published on ESET´s website and Forbes.com.
Do you want to learn more about human progress and technology? Meet some of our other heroes:
- Chris Hadfield, astronaut, engineer, pilot, and author of four international bestsellers– for his work promoting technological progress and innovation via collaboration and his unique perspective on our world. Read more here.
- For her research into and promotion of youth enablement in technology for a safe and progressive future, Dr Mimi Ito, cultural anthropologist, Professor in Residence at the Humanities Research Institute at the University of California. Read more here.
- Dr Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist, co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, co-founder of the climate initiative The All We Can Save Project and co-creator of the podcast How to Save a Planet – for her work in ocean conservation and raising awareness of climate solutions to secure the future of our planet. Read more here.
- Steven Johnson, author of thirteen books focusing on the intersection of science, technology and personal experience, and host of the American Innovations podcast – for his research into the history of transformative ideas and the role diversity plays in creating the most innovative solutions for the present and future. Read more here.
- Please visit our Heroes of progress website to learn more about the campaign.