The Lemelson Foundation

We are proud to launch our new position paper on Understanding the Landscape of Global Engineering Capacity and Capability. The paper: ?? Takes a comprehensive look at the current state of global engineering capacity and capability ?? Explores the necessity of reliably measuring the engineering workforce’s ability to plan, build, and manage infrastructure that aligns with the #SDGs. ?? Reviews existing data and research on the availability and competencies of engineers worldwide, focusing on the key themes of #sustainability, #resilience, #climatechange, and #sustainabledevelopment. ?? Reviews over 120 references and 100 capacity-building initiatives to assess how current education and training programmes address these crucial areas. ?? Highlights the evolving focus of engineering education on sustainability, resilience, and #climateaction. ?? Identifies 2 key gaps and makes 6 recommendations for action ? Download the paper here: https://lnkd.in/d33JBrXS #ClimateWeekNYC COP Resilience Hub Bentley Systems Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) Jason Blackstock How to Change the World Cindy Pereira Cooper The Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet Cindy Anderson Dina D'Ayala UCL Thomas "Tom" Lewis, PE, JD Clare Moberly Royal Academy of Engineering Jonathan Truslove Engineering Without Borders (EWB) Sofia Berger WSP Linda Bihire Bridges to Prosperity Marsia "Marsie" Geldert-Murphey, P.E., F.ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers Tej Gidda GHD Hans Hoyer IFEES - International Federation of Engineering Education Societies Nick Starkey Martin van Veelen The Geotechnical Division of SAICE (South African Institution of Civil Engineering) WFEO - World Federation of Engineering Organizations Mary Wells Savina Carluccio George M. Karagiannis, PhD, CEM? Gemma C. Jasmine Andean Katie Momber Billie Donovan Arabella Liu Robert Parlett

What if every student could change the world with their next class project? Join the InventEd's Christine Lawlor-King and Erin Tochen at their #E2E2024 session to discover how InventEd is revolutionizing STEM learning. Learn how invention education can: * Empower students to solve real-world problems * Bridge the gap between STEM theory and application * Foster creativity and critical thinking in all learners ?? REGISTER TODAY: https://lnkd.in/e4M4yaBW The Lemelson Foundation #STEMEcosystems #ChicagoConvening #AccessInAction to join the conversation!

Please take a look at this communications job opportunity for our InventEd network, and consider sharing with your own networks!

The gap in development capital needed to achieve the SDGs can present an opportunity for investors. Catalytic capital investment in social entrepreneurship in countries like India can help provide the health, agriculture, and climate solutions needed to both improve lives and protect the environment. But there can also be complicated regulations on foreign investment that are difficult for US- and EU-based stakeholders to navigate. To help find solutions, The Lemelson Foundation funded a study — “Barriers and Levers for Catalytic Capital in India” — published by partners Desai & Associates and Prime Coalition.?The report provides a deep review and analysis of the different pathways to bring catalytic capital from the US and Europe to Indian social enterprises, and provides potential solutions to different legal, structural, financial, and operational challenges. This is a valuable resource for funders, organizations, intermediaries, and policymakers looking to create more efficient pathways and partnerships to drive climate innovation and social impact in India. View the full report at: https://lnkd.in/dwG2JtBS #ClimateFinance #CatalyticCapital #Innovation #Climate #ClimateInnovation #India #SDGs #sustainability

Learn more about one of the Foundation’s newest Climate Action grantees: Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy is an Indigenous-led nonprofit committed to supporting Native American Tribes’ transition to a clean energy future. Along with other philanthropic partners, The Lemelson Foundation supports the Alliance’s “Indigenous Power and Light Fund,” which offers no-cost, capacity-building assistance for Tribes seeking access to federal and alternative funding to develop renewable energy projects on their lands. The Alliance provides critical technical and financial assistance, supporting 90+ Tribes with over 8 gigawatts of clean energy in development. To learn more about Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, visit: https://lnkd.in/eNwYAtxa #IndigenousValues #CleanEnergyTransition #TribalCleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergy #Innovation #Climate #ClimateAction #CleanEnergySolutions #TribalLeadership #JustTransition #NativeAmerican

Invention requires diverse perspectives — and The Lemelson Foundation’s staff all bring unique experiences and backgrounds to their roles. Today we’re spotlighting Program Officer Kory Murphy, whose own path represents the values of resilience and mentorship that inform his work building equitable innovation ecosystems. His story is a reminder that for invention — and for life — every setback can be a setup for a comeback. Thirty years ago last week, Kory’s college football career with the University of Oregon Ducks ended from a severe injury on the field. “You never know when your last play will be," he reflects, a philosophy that has guided him throughout his life, striving to give his all to every opportunity. It’s also a perspective rooted in reinvention and recovery from adversity. Kory went on to mentor other young athletes, work with underrepresented communities in the public and private sectors in Oregon, and create a groundbreaking startup accelerator for Black and underserved climate tech entrepreneurs. He brings these lessons to his role ensuring that young inventors from all backgrounds have the resources and support they need to turn their ideas into impactful solutions. Read more about Kory’s journey from the football field to the Foundation, and the perspective he brings to mentoring entrepreneurs, innovators, and community gamechangers: https://lnkd.in/eDWCJV4K And hear Kory’s perspective on the thirtieth anniversary of this life-changing event from his own post: https://lnkd.in/eY3pQSvf #invention #innovation #entrepreneurship #football #changeyourgame Smithsonian Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation

Congratulations to this year's #JuniorInnovators finalists! We're proud to be presenting the Lemelson Award for Invention to a finalist who is working on a promising solution to real-world problems. Winners will be announced on October 29. https://bit.ly/4cXV0V6 #invention #inventor #inventioneducation Society for Science Thermo Fisher Scientific

Calling all staff and administrators at #HBCUs, #TCUs, and other minority-serving institutions: join VentureWell for their webinar “Win the Bid - THE DOE Contract Landscape,” tomorrow, September 18 at 3:00pm ET / 2:00pm CT! This free webinar will cover the essentials of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contract bidding process, from understanding DOE’s procurement requirements to crafting competitive proposals. “Win the Bid - THE DOE Contract Landscape” is the fourth and final installment of VentureWell’s “Funding Futures Webinar Series,” designed to give America’s top research institutions and higher education leaders at MSIs the tools they need to enter the world of federal contracting. VentureWell’s interactive learning sessions provide minority-serving institutions the opportunity to learn more about key aspects of federal procurement, capability statement development, DOE contract forecasting, and compliance requirements – while incorporating?tips for navigating federal government systems. By collaborating with key federal agencies, MSIs have the opportunity to develop new revenue streams for their institutions and elevate their engagement within STEM ecosystems. Secure your spot in tomorrow’s webinar today: https://lnkd.in/eHTNm6b3 #MSIs #HigherEducation #AANHPI #Black

Today’s students are coming up with amazing ideas for inventions that could change our world for the better. Our grantee Society for Science recently spotlighted hundreds of these innovative ideas with the announcement of the Top 300 Junior Innovators for the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific #JuniorInnovators Challenge (JIC)! JIC is a premier middle school science and engineering competition that fuels students’ creativity and problem-solving skills through invention education — challenging them to invent new solutions to pressing issues. It also provides a platform to present their projects on a national stage, along with the chance to receive awards that can kick start their science or engineering careers. Out of the 2,000 middle school students who applied, 300 were selected to advance to the next stage. Their projects center on developing engineering solutions for environmental and sustainability issues, health challenges, and more. Here are just some examples: ?? One student is working to blend seaweed with other materials to create a food-safe biofabric.? ?? Another student is exploring the use of animal bone waste to help filter water to make clean drinking water more accessible.? ?? Many students are incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop apps and assistive devices for people with visual impairments, autism, anxiety, and speech disorders.? ?? Others are working to use these new technologies to potentially detect and identify different types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. To learn more about the competition and view the full list of students and their projects, visit https://lnkd.in/gHi_ZFE8 And follow Society for Science and Thermo Fisher Scientific as they prepare to share the 30 finalists later this week. Those selected could win over $100,000 in awards and prizes, including the $10,000 Lemelson Foundation Award for Invention #Invention #STEM #STEMEducation #STEMLearning #Innovation #AI #JIC #ScienceEducation #InventionEducation

“If you’re a parent, teacher, youth leader, or anyone involved in educating K-12 students in any way, you have the power to reduce barriers to innovation.” A recent piece from the Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University discusses the benefits of invention education, and announces the expansion of Lemelson Foundation grantee The Henry Ford’s Invention Convention Worldwide into Arizona. Invention Convention Worldwide is a K-12 invention education organization that empowers students to solve challenges through inventing, and to pitch their solutions at local, regional, state, and national competitions. Bringing this initiative to Arizona presents an exciting opportunity for students at participating schools, youth organizations, and homeschool groups to engage in their programming and competitions, creating more pathways to invention and innovation for all K-12 youth in the region. The Edson E+I Institute describes invention education as a great equalizer in the classroom, and highlights how programs like Invention Convention Worldwide are improving access to #STEM #education for all students. Read the full blog, and if you’re an Arizona-based educator or administrator, learn how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/eK3JpaW6 #InventionConvention #ICW #STEMLearning #STEMEducation #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #ASU Arizona State University