By Ron Taylor In my father’s generation, leaders were expected to give orders and workers were expected to take them. You did what you were told to do or you were fired.
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![The Big Dig during construction.](https://appel.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/3a3-670x380.jpg)
Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel Project, commonly known as the Big Dig, was the largest, most complex, and most technically challenging highway project in American history.
![EWB-JSC volunteer Evan Thomas working in Muramba, Rwanda, to assess a surface-water pipeline.](https://appel.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/3a5-670x380.jpg)
By Kerry Ellis According to the World Bank, more than 1.1 billion people do not have access to clean, safe water, and 1.6 million children die each year as a result of illness related to inadequate water supply and sanitation.
By Don Cohen NASA’s Chief Technologist talks about fostering innovation.
![The Knowledge Notebook by Laurence Prusak](https://appel.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/knowledge_notebook-670x370.png)
By Laurence Prusak One of the great questions in history is why the Industrial Revolution that started in the eighteenth century and went on to radically change almost every aspect of the way people live developed in the West, and especially the northwest corner of Europe.
By Ed Hoffman Last spring I had the opportunity to visit three project-based organizations in the Piedmont region of Italy.
![In This Issue by Don Cohen](https://appel.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/in_this_issue-670x370.png)
Don Cohen, Managing Editor This issue of ASK features two apparently divergent themes. One is the importance of far-reaching innovation.
![Remote ultrasound procedures help provide for medical diagnoses on the International Space Station.](https://appel.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/2a2-670x380.jpg)
By Bo Schwerin Medical technology developed for the space station improves remote diagnostics on Earth.
![Masten Space Systems' "Xombie" vehicle ascending during its first flight.](https://appel.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2a-670x380.jpg)
NASA in the News NASA is seeking private and corporate sponsors for the Centennial Challenges, a program of incentive prizes designed for the “citizen inventor” that generates creative solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation.