(Avon, CT — March 4, 2026) — The Talcott Mountain Research Institute (TMRI) proudly celebrates Dartmouth College Professor Eric R. Fossum, Ph.D., for receiving the 2026 Charles Stark Draper Prize, widely regarded as engineering’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. A Connecticut native and alumnus of Talcott Mountain Science Center, Dr. Fossum will return to the Mountain on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, as the inaugural speaker in TMRI’s new On the Shoulders of Giants (OSG) Lecture Series.
Dr. Fossum received the Draper Prize in recognition of his invention of the CMOS image sensor, the breakthrough technology that powers billions of digital cameras worldwide. Developed during his tenure at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the “camera on a chip” replaced bulky imaging tubes with compact, low-power semiconductor sensors, enabling miniaturized spacecraft and ultimately transforming global digital imaging.
Today, CMOS image sensors convert light into digital data in smartphones, medical devices, automotive safety systems, scientific instruments, and space missions around the world.
Reflecting on his early years at Talcott Mountain, Dr. Fossum noted that receiving the National Academy of Engineering’s Draper Prize was “an amazing honor and very humbling, especially considering the engineers who have received the prize in the past.” In his Draper Prize acceptance remarks, he said he was proud to recognize the Talcott Mountain Science Center as “a pivotal experience through its approach to hands-on student involvement in science education,” adding that his time there “truly changed my life’s path at a formative age.”
On May 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Talcott Mountain Planetarium, Dr. Fossum will present “Here’s Looking at You: The Invention Behind the Camera in Your Pocket.” His OSG Lecture will explore the science of digital image capture, trace the path from laboratory breakthrough to global commercialization, and examine future advances in imaging, including Dartmouth’s Quanta Image Sensor, capable of detecting single photons of light.
“I hope people learn some new science and see how ideas become products people use,” Dr. Fossum said. “If they leave with a better understanding of what’s happening inside their smartphone camera, I’ll consider it a success.”
“The On the Shoulders of Giants Lecture Series celebrates individuals whose curiosity and creative insight help us see further,” said Jay White, Ph.D., Director of TMRI. “The aim of the OSG Lecture Series is to illuminate the human process behind discovery, connect generations of wonderers, and show that meaningful scientific lives are built on persistence, collaboration, and imagination.”
“We in the Talcott community celebrate Dr. Fossum as this year’s recipient of the Charles Stark Draper Prize in Engineering,” said Jeff Martin, Executive Director of Talcott Mountain Science Center, Academy, & Research Institute. “He exemplifies what TMRI and the broader Talcott Mountain community strive to cultivate—curiosity, exploration, and perseverance.”
A reception will follow the lecture. Tickets are available here.
The Talcott Mountain Research Institute (TMRI) is the research-focused arm of Talcott Mountain Science Center, Academy, & Research Institute. TMRI immerses students in sustained scientific inquiry, connects young scholars with leading investigators, and engages the public through initiatives such as the On the Shoulders of Giants Lecture Series and immersive STEM travel programs. Through partnerships with STEM professionals, colleges, universities, and research institutions, TMRI cultivates disciplined curiosity, collaborative problem-solving, and enduring intellectual challenge. Learn more at talcottmountainresearch.org.