Earl Bakken, the founder of Medtronic, Inc., which is Team 1816’s leading corporate sponsor, paid a visit to his namesake museum while he was recently in the Twin Cities. Green Machine team member Matt H. had the opportunity to hear Mr. Bakken speak to a small group about his life and various inventions. Mr. Bakken founded Medtronic (medical + electronics) after World War II and invented the first battery-operated pacemaker. The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, is the only library and museum in the United States devoted to medical electronics. Matt and fellow team member Greg B. are regular volunteers at the museum, assisting with children’s programs and acting as tour guides. The team this summer participated in several Bakken events, including landscaping and recycling projects.
