October 2023 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the oil embargo imposed by the Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in the wake of 1973’s Arab-Israeli War. The temporary shortages inflated energy prices, jolted the global economy, and destabilized geo-political relationships around the world. The crisis also inspired new science and technology policies and several innovations, including alternative nuclear, solar, wind, and geothermal energy sources and more fuel-efficient automobiles. Today, we are witnessing a resurgence in creative policy solutions and n ..read more

The archive of outdoor enthusiast and inventor Leonard Karr features kayaks, decoys, and other technologies originally developed by Indigenous Peoples. Kayaking began as a recreational activity in the United States in the 19th century, and it entered the mainstream in the 1970s. Today, recreational kayaking is one of the most popular paddle sports with more than 11 million participants, of which I am one. (Outdoor Foundation, 2019, page 17) But before kayaks became almost exclusively recreational, they were “working” boats used for fishing, hunting, and transportation. Kayaks originated ..read more

We emerged from our Zoom squares and moved, squinting, into the light. Slippers off, shoes on. A dramatic interpretation, but not far off. Due to all the challenges of Covid, the closures and restrictions, educators from all the Spark!Lab network sites had not physically met in several years. Museum education usually takes place, well, in museums, with visitors learning through interactions with trained staff, artifacts and displays, and often hands-on activities. And for visitors to Spark!Lab, a space where inventive thinking is encouraged and nurtured, it’s all about hands-on exploration an ..read more

In Spark!Lab, inventiveness is as different as each inventor who walks through the door. A lot of visitors dive right into materials, PVC pipes, cardboard, magnetic connectors and 3D-printed pieces. They take inspiration—from questions on signs, from the people next to them, from what they’ve learned in their visit that day, and from their personal experiences—to prototype a solution to an invention challenge. blog-buning-nyssa-activity-table-sparklab-singapore-2023-05-23.JPG Inventors sketch their ideas. Photo credit: The National Library Board Some visitors observe others, noting ..read more

In July 2015, the Lemelson Center opened its award-winning exhibition, Places of Invention. Visitors encounter six locations, diverse geographically and chronologically, that consider a fundamental question: What kind of place stimulates creative minds and sparks a surge of invention and innovation?  Those six stories— Bronx, New York, and the invention of hip-hop in the 1970s;  Fort Collins, Colorado, spearheading breakthrough inventions in clean energy today;  Hartford, Connecticut, and the rise of mass production manufacturing in the 19th century;  Hollywood, Cali ..read more

In honor of Earth Day, the Lemelson Center celebrates inventors whose problem-solving has resulted in greener, more sustainable energy solutions. In 2015, the Lemelson Center opened Places of Invention, an exhibition that explores how hotspots of innovation develop. Fort Collins, Colorado, was one featured community that was notable for its focus on “inventing green.” On April 12, we catch up with Amy Prieto and Sunil Cherian, two inventors based in Fort Collins highlighted in the exhibition. This virtual public program is free. “Every device I could think of was limited by the battery,” sa ..read more

“Color makes you feel alive.” So quips film chemist Beverly Wood, whose innovations in color technologies contributed to the success of films such as Seven, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Skyfall. Wood headlines a virtual public program hosted by the Lemelson Center on March 8. A self-described “film whisperer,” Wood has helped cinematographers and directors achieve their artistic vision for a film. To that end, she has received accolades for the film processing technologies known as Color Contrast Enhancement and Adjustable Contrast Enhancement. In reading about Wood, I was struck by her mu ..read more

“Technology knows no international boundaries . . . great engineers create for the progress of all mankind.” (Lili Réthi, Radio Salzburg Broadcast, 1955, Lili Réthi Papers) Lilly (Lili) Maria Réthi (1894-1969) was born in Vienna, Austria. Her parents were Leopold Réthi (1857-1924), a prominent doctor of laryngology and Marie (neé Mauther, 1863-1955). Réthi had one sister, Elizabeth “Elsie” (1889-1970). She attended the Viennese Kunstschule für Frauen und Mädchen (Vienna School of Art for Women and Girls, established 1897), from 1917-1924. The school existed until 1945, but it ..read more

Who invents for sports and why? Specifically, what motivates so many athletes to becomes sports inventors? These are some of the central questions the Lemelson Center is exploring in the upcoming exhibition we’re now calling Change Your Game (formerly Game Changers). The name change—and emphasis on YOU—reflects a greater focus on our visitors. By sharing the stories of several sports inventors, we hope the exhibition inspires our visitors to see themselves as inventors and to “change their games,” whether that’s in sports or some other domain. Time and again, we’ve ob ..read more

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