Black and White interviews Curator of Contemporary Art at the Carnegie Museum of Art Douglas Fogle who is curating “Life on Mars,” the 55th Carnegie International. In an interview with John Eastman, Fogle discusses the choice of the exhibit’s theme, his experiences with the artists, what other curators have influenced him, and how the exhibit engages its visitors.

Davison, Inc. is a company that aids entrepreneurs and corporations in developing their new products. Black and White talks to George Davison, President and CEO of the 19-year old firm, about influences from his early years, business lessons learned as a professional paintball player, and “InventionLand” – the continually evolving facility that helps enable creators.

At a 1989 agricultural fair, Trevor Field discovered a child’s playground roundabout linked into a water pump. He saw this invention as a means to solve the Sub-Sahara African clean water shortage and developed it into the innovative PlayPump water system. Eighteen years later, more than 1,000 PlayPump systems have brought clean drinking water to those who need it most. John Eastman talks with Trevor Field about the South African-U.S. nonprofit organization, the motivation for his quest, the key entities that aid his organization, and his goal to expand the geographical reach of his systems.

The declining value of the U.S. dollar and its effects on the economy have been the subject of much debate in the financial community. Linda Rosencrance interviews two currency experts at investment banking firms who discuss the perceptions, underlying reasons, and effects of the U.S. dollar’s value around the globe. (Photos L-R: David Resler, Marc Chandler)

A corporation’s intangible assets can be as important as its tangible brick and mortar ones. While they do not appear on the balance sheet of the corporate entity, their mismanagement can have far reaching effects on market value. The phrase “hard to build and easy to lose” describes these difficult to measure elements that contribute so significant to the value of a company. Nir Kossovsky, MD of Steel City Re talks about management of intangible assets. Part 1 Part 2

Small business meets big business in the world of product development, patenting, manufacturing, and retailing. Black and White interviews Mike Marks, inventor and co-founder of WorkTools.

Robert Brandegee, co-founder of marketing and communications firm Brandegee Inc., outlines how his firm was effective and how his organizational process worked for clients. Now retired from business, he is a furniture designer, artist, and art collector.

Dr. Irving Wender, Distinguished University Research Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, speaks with Black and White. The discussion touches on Wender’s focus on extending our energy resources, his work and patents, his involvement with The Manhattan Project developing the first nuclear bomb, and his views of the existing nuclear climate of several countries.

When One Laptop Per Child introduced a cost-effective laptop, they created a new market for educational PCs in developing countries. They have constructed a powerful idea for learning, which, in conjunction with the laptop, can improve the lives of millions with educational opportunities. Walter Bender, President of Software/Content and COO of OLPC elaborates on their original mission, the passion of Nicholas Negroponte and the OLPC staff, and the adjustments that they have made since the inception of their product.

Manager of Xerox Canada’s New Materials Design and Synthesis Lab Dr. Paul Smith talks about erasable paper— an emerging product that is self-erasing and reusable. The product was inspired by an anthropological study and has the potential to reduce paper waste and save energy. Xerox Canada worked in collaboration with the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.