Invention Notebook

World Engineering Day prompts crucial questions: Can the very ingenuity that defines engineering — the force that builds our world’s cities and puts a world of knowledge in our hands — help pave the path towards a truly sustainable future? Can it become an instrument not just for technological progress, but also for the thriving of our planet and its inhabitants? Can engineering helpMore

Each February brings me a deeper appreciation for Black History Month. Yet, alongside this admiration, I can’t help but grapple with mixed feelings. We dedicate a mere 28 days to honoring the remarkable achievements of Black individuals in American history. Despite the community events and workplace discussions, Black History Month often feels like a mere token gesture, akin to aMore

Why We Must Celebrate and Support the Inventive Spirit A message from Rob Schneider, Executive Director, The Lemelson Foundation National Inventors’ Day, observed annually on February 11th, serves as a reminder of the transformative power of human ingenuity. It’s a day to recognize and celebrate the individuals who dare to challenge the status quo, who dare to dream of aMore

This approach to STEM learning ignites creativity, instills lifelong skills, and fuels the innovation economy. How do we ensure that school is not a limiting factor for creativity and innovation, but instead instills an inventive mindset in our students? Our answer is Invention Education. This op-ed in Invention Notebook — authored by Elizabeth Stock and Michela SotturaMore

These ten educators are empowering teachers and the rising generation of inventors and innovators.

This student inventor uses an innovative renewable energy source to help monitor natural disasters.

What all accelerators and funders should know to overcome the challenges to being a successful social impact incubator In the field of social impact entrepreneurship, incubators and accelerators play a critical role. Without them, countless innovative ideas to solve sustainable development challenges would remain just that — ideas without tangible impact. And many entrepreneurs in the Global SouthMore

Next month, at COP 28, leaders from across the globe will meet to take action toward the biggest issues in climate change, including financing for Africa. The continent is at the forefront of the world’s most acute climate disasters, yet it receives just 4.7% of total global climate financing — a fraction of the US$2.7 trillion it will need overMore

(Pictured above: Lemelson Foundation Senior Program Officer David Coronado, at left, and Tarun Batchu, at right, at the Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals 2023) An award-winning student inventor, Tarun Batchu has discovered an eco-friendly way to convert plastics into fuel. Humans produce millions of tons of plastic waste every year, much of which ends up in the ocean,More