Former vice president Al Gore told Embedded Systems Conference attendees this week that global warming will spur young Americans to join the engineering field. Gore’s comments were not widely reported, however, because he initially refused to allow journalists into the speech, then changed his mind shortly before the event.
The San Jose Mercury News reported that Gore told the standing-room audience that the sight of thousands of engineers addressing climate change would alter the way the profession appeals to young people around the country. "When we undertake that challenge, you will find young people flowing into engineering," the newspaper quoted Gore as saying. "They are desperate to find something larger than themselves."
The event, which drew lines that wrapped around a city block in San Jose, was initially going to bar non-attendees of the show and reporters of any kind. Shortly before the speech, however, Gore said only the trade press would not be allowed to attend. Hours later, he relented again, stating that all media would be permitted inside. No recording of the session was allowed, however. (Read about one reporter's attempt to see the speech.)
Show management in the ESC Press Room said that Gore initially prohibited journalists because of fear of being misinterpreted. Management did not say why he changed his mind.
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