Corinna E. Lathan facts for kids

Corinna E. Lathan, often called Cori, is an American inventor, engineer, and someone who works to help others. She wrote a book called InventingThe Future: Stories from a Techno Optimist.

Cori Lathan is currently the CEO of De Oro Devices. She also helped start AnthroTronix, Inc. This company works on medical research and new technologies. It is located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Cori Lathan is well-known for creating computer programs for health and tools that help people.

Education and Learning

Cori Lathan studied at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. She earned degrees in biopsychology (how the brain affects behavior) and mathematics.

She then went to MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There, she earned two more degrees. One was in aeronautics and astronautics (the science of flight and space travel). The other was a doctorate in Neuroscience (the study of the brain and nervous system). She was one of only two women in her doctoral program at MIT.

Her Career and Work

Cori Lathan used to be a professor at The Catholic University of America. She taught Biomedical Engineering. She was the only woman professor in the College of Engineering there. She also taught Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Starting New Companies

In 1999, Cori Lathan helped start AnthroTronix, Inc. This company focuses on research and development. In 2005, she started another company called AT KidSystems, Inc. This company sold special computer tools and learning software. These tools helped children use computers in new ways.

Developing Helpful Technologies

At AnthroTronix, Cori Lathan led the creation of many helpful medical devices. One important invention was CosmoBot. This was an interactive robot designed to help children with autism. It also helped children with other conditions that affect their nervous system.

She also led the team that developed DANA. DANA stands for Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment. It is a digital health platform. This tool helps doctors check a person's brain function.

Serving on Company Boards

Cori Lathan is an independent director at PTC. This company provides technology for the internet of things and augmented reality. She also serves as a director at Ekso Bionics. This company makes robotic exoskeletons, which are wearable robots that help people move.

The World Economic Forum recognized Cori Lathan as a Technology Pioneer. They also named her a Young Global Leader. She helped start and lead the Global Futures Council on Human Enhancement.

Helping Others

Cori Lathan cares a lot about helping women and minorities get involved in science and technology. In 1993, she started a program called Keys to Empowering Youth (KEYs) at MIT. This program has now been adopted by other universities.

She has given advice to the FIRST and VEX robotics programs. She is also on the board of Engineering World Health. This group helps bring healthcare technology to developing countries. She is also a board member of the KID Museum. She advises the Smithsonian Institution's Lemelson Center, which studies invention.

Awards and Recognition

Cori Lathan's work with children and robots has been featured in many magazines. These include Forbes, Time, and The New Yorker. She has received many awards for her inventions and leadership.

• The Daily Record Maryland’s Top Innovator of the Year (2002)
• MIT Technology Review Top 100 World Innovators (2002)
• World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer (2004)
• World Economic Forum Young Global Leader
• Fast Company Magazine Most Creative People in Business (2010)

In March 2022, a life-size statue of Cori Lathan was shown at the Smithsonian. It was part of an exhibit celebrating Contemporary Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).