Richard Blanco was selected by President Obama as the nation’s fifth inaugural poet, joining the ranks of such luminary poets as Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Miller Williams, and Elizabeth Alexander . The theme of the 2013 presidential inauguration, “Faith in America’s Future,” was reflected in “One Today,” the poem Blanco composed and read for the occasion . His latest poem, “Genius of Stars and Love,” was written for The Tech Awards 2013.

A builder of cities as well as poems, Blanco holds a B.S. in civil engineering and an M.F.A. in creative writing . His poems have appeared in leading literary journals and he is the author of several award-winning books. About his most recent book, For All of Us, One Today (Beacon Press), The Tech’s president Tim Ritchie wrote, “By all means, join Blanco on his journey from a sentimental view of America to one of clear-eyed, reality-tested hope. Learn from his insight about what knits us together as Americans and as humans. Who better than a civil engineer and a poet to envision the foundation for a community characterized by dignity, beauty, and opportunity?”

About The Tech Museum of Innovation
The Tech Museum of Innovation is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds. The Tech—located in the Capital of Silicon Valley —is a non-profit, experiential learning resource established to engage people in exploring and experiencing applied technologies affecting their lives. Through programs such as The Tech Challenge presented by Cisco, our annual team-design competition for youth, and internationally renowned programs such as The Tech Awards presented by Applied Materials, The Tech endeavors to inspire the innovator in everyone.