Iconoclasts - Season2 - Isabella Rossellini + Dean Kamen

Isabella Rossellini

Actor

Isabella Rossellini grew up in Paris and Rome. At the age of 19, she moved to New York, where she became a translator and later a reporter for RAI-Italian Television. Her popular segments led to appearances as a New York correspondent for the weekly Italian comedy show, "The Other Sunday", with Roberto Benigni (LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL). At the relatively advanced age of 28, Rossellini began a modeling career when she was photographed by British and American Vogue by Bruce Weber and Bill King, respectively. She has since worked with the industry's most distinguished photographers, including Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Peter Lindbergh, Norman Parkinson and Eve Arnold—and she has appeared on the cover of such magazines as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Bazaar and Vanity Fair. An exhibition of photographs of Rossellini, "Portrait of a Woman," was held in March 1988 at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. She made her cinematic debut in 1979 in Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's IL PRATO (THE MEADOW). Her American film debut was opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines in Taylor Hackford's WHITE NIGHTS (1985). In 1986, she starred opposite Dennis Hopper as Dorothy Vallens, the tortured lounge singer in David Lynch's haunting and controversial BLUE VELVET. She played the role of Big Nose Kate in Lawrence Kasdan's WYATT EARP with Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid, followed by IMMORTAL BELOVED opposite Gary Oldman. Rossellini starred as a two-timing girlfriend in BIG NIGHT, co-directed by Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci, which won Best Screenplay at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival. For television, most notably Rossellini starred as the goddess Athena in the mini-series "The Odyssey and The Last Elephant" (opposite John Lithgow). She received a Golden Globe award nomination for her role as the wife of accused Lindbergh baby kidnapper Bruno Hauptmann (Stephen Rea) in "Crime of the Century." She was nominated for an Emmy award for her work in the TV series "Chicago Hope." Rossellini's modeling and acting career also led her into the world of cosmetics. Beginning in 1982, she was the exclusive spokesmodel for the international cosmetics brand Lancome for 14 years. In 1990, Lancome launched the highly successful fragrance Trésor, which was Rossellini's first involvement with product development. In 1995, Isabella began a collaboration with the Coty Group to develop her own brand of cosmetics, which launched internationally in May 1999. In 1998, Rossellini's self-described fictional memoir, entitled Some of Me, was published in the USA. The book has since been published in Italian, German and French language editions. In 2006, Isabella Rossellini dedicated most of her time celebrating the centennial of the birth of her father, director Roberto Rossellini. A major retrospective was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York November through December 2006. The exhibit then traveled to Toronto, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Rome. Rossellini currently resides in New York City with her two children.

Dean Kamen

Inventor

Dean Kamen looks at the world a bit differently than the rest of us: He sees things that are not there. Not in the supernatural or hallucinatory sense, but in the sense that where there is an innovation gap, he looks to fill it. As an inventor, Kamen develops processes and products that change the way people think and go about their daily lives. Kamen holds more than 440 US and foreign patents, many of them for ground-breaking medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide. While still a college undergraduate in the early 1970's, he invented the first wearable infusion pump, which rapidly gained acceptance from such diverse medical specialties as chemotherapy, neonatology and endocrinology. In 1976, Kamen founded his first medical device company, AutoSyringe, Inc., to manufacture and market the pumps, eventually selling it to Baxter International Corporation. By then, he had created a number of other infusion devices, including the first insulin pump for diabetics. Following the sale of AutoSyringe, Inc., Kamen founded DEKA Research & Development Corporation to cultivate ideas, foster innovation and invention as well as provide R&D for major corporate clients. Breakthrough projects include the HomeChoice™ portable dialysis machine and the Independence® iBOT® 4000 Mobility System, a battery powered mobility device that can traverse almost any terrain effortlessly—from curbs to steps, sand to stones. Arguably his most publicized invention is the Segway® HT, an electric scooter that provides a clean alternative for short distance travel. Today, Kamen continues work on a power generating Stirling engine and water purification system—two essential life-enabling devices for developing countries. And while this distinct type of ingenuity has kept Kamen's name in the spotlight of invention, it's his tireless advocacy of science and technology that makes him heroic. More than ten years ago, Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), and has remained its driving force, its guiding spirit, and, in the eyes of thousands of school children across the country, its personal embodiment. FIRST employs marketing and media techniques to motivate students to want to learn about science and technology. Kamen has personally recruited scores of the top leaders of American industry, education and government in this crusade. Last year, more than 7,500 middle schools participated in FIRST's "little league" program, the FIRST Lego League. The FIRST Robotics Competition had more than 1,100 high school teams competing in 33 regional competitions across the U.S. , and the National Championship was held in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. In addition to his own attempts to master science and technology, Kamen has received significant public recognition for his crusade on behalf of science and engineering. He was, for example, labeled by Smithsonian Magazine "The Pied Piper of Technology" and profiled by the New York Times as "A New Kind of Hero for American Youth". Among the honors received by Kamen: The Kilby Award, which celebrates those who make extraordinary contributions to society; the Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment; and the National Medal of Technology, awarded by President Clinton in 2000 for inventions that have advanced medical care worldwide, and for innovative and imaginative leadership in awakening America to the excitement of science and technology. Kamen was also awarded the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2002, is a member of the National Academy of Engineers and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2005. Highlights: Early 70's: Kamen drops out of Worcester Polytechnic Institute to develop a portable infusion pump 1976: AutoSyringe, Inc., Kamen's first medical device company, is founded 1982: After selling AutoSyringe, Inc., Kamen launches DEKA, a small group of individuals with big ideas 1989: Kamen founds FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) an organization that aspires to transform culture, by inspiring kids, their schools and communities to understand, use and appreciate science and technology 2002: Kamen is awarded the Lemelson-MIT Prize 2005: Kamen is inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame Learn more about Dean Kamen and his work at: * www.dekaresearch.com" * www.segway.com" * www.usfirst.org"

Photos from this episode:

Image from the Isabella Rossellini + Dean Kamen episode of Iconoclasts Season 2

Image from the Isabella Rossellini + Dean Kamen episode of Iconoclasts Season 2

Image from the Isabella Rossellini + Dean Kamen episode of Iconoclasts Season 2