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Lemelson Center Research

The Lemelson Center is a leader in the study of invention and innovation. Learn more about our research findings here. 

 

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Lemelson Center Research

2021 Lemelson Center Activities Report

In 2021, the Lemelson Center focused on updating and producing digital resources and events.

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Lemelson Center Research

2020 Lemelson Center Activities Report

In 2020, the Center pivoted much of its work to the digital realm to serve our audiences.

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Lemelson Center Research

2019 Lemelson Center Activities Report

In 2019, the Lemelson Center continued to change the way people think about the role of invention in their lives.

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Lemelson Center Research

2018 Lemelson Center Activities Report

The Lemelson Center had a dynamic 2018, featuring significant public engagement ranging from Draper Spark!Lab at the National Museum of American History to the expanding Spark!Lab network to invention and innovation festivals and our Innovative Lives program series.

The words Thanks for an amazingly inventive year! are visible on a projection screen.
Lemelson Center Research

2017 Lemelson Center Activities Report

The Lemelson Center had a remarkable 2017, with growth in research and education, and dynamic new public programming initiatives.

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Story Tags

  • African American inventors (Relevance: 25%)
  • Archives@NMAH (Relevance: 25%)
  • Asian Pacific American inventors (Relevance: 25%)
  • Behind-the-scenes (Relevance: 100%)
  • Game Changers exhibition (Relevance: 25%)
  • Hispanic/Latino inventors (Relevance: 25%)
  • Immigrant inventors (Relevance: 25%)
  • Innoskate (Relevance: 25%)
  • Invention process (Relevance: 25%)
  • New Perspectives Symposium (Relevance: 25%)
  • Places of Invention (Relevance: 50%)
  • Sports (Relevance: 25%)
  • Video games (Relevance: 25%)
  • Women inventors (Relevance: 25%)
Screenshot of Spacewar! video game
Lemelson Center Research

Video Game Pioneers Initiative

A project to document and preserve the legacy of video game pioneers.

Graphic logo for Innoskate 2016
Lemelson Center Research

Innoskate

Innoskate explores skate culture’s creative spirit and history of innovation.

A stylized drawing of a compact fluorescent light bulb surrounded by a solid orange circle with a green border
Lemelson Center Research

Lemelson Center Research and Program Focus, 2016-2020

In coming years, we will continue research on the role of place in innovation and drivers for people to become inventors and innovators. We also will initiate research, exhibitions, educational activities, and public engagement work in the new areas of innovation in sports and the role of risk and failure in invention and innovation.

A stylized drawing of a compact fluorescent light bulb surrounded by a solid orange circle with a green border
Lemelson Center Research

The Diversity of Invention

To expand our knowledge of the full range of inventors, we have made it a priority to document and feature women and minority inventors from the past and present.

Chuck Popenoe
Lemelson Center Research

Documenting Invention: Understanding Inventors' Spaces

An exploration of best practices for documenting the labs, workshops, and creative spaces of America’s inventors

Lemelson Center Research

Documenting Invention: Developing a Flow Model of Invention

An inventor's process is influenced by a variety of ideas, resources, and people.

Lemelson Center Research

Documenting Invention: Prototypes and Invention—An Inquiry into How Inventors Think and Communicate

How do inventors use prototypes in the course of developing new technology?

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Lemelson Center Research

Places of Invention: The Lemelson Institute

In August 2007, an interdisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners met to examine the relationship between physical spaces and creativity.

Lemelson Center Research

Documenting Invention: Interviewing Inventors

An exploration of best practices for oral and video history

Lemelson Center Research

Documenting Invention: Patent Attorneys, Their Records, and the Study of Invention

It is the job of the patent attorney to grasp the essence of the inventor's work and present it in a manner that is understandable to the layperson.

Lemelson Center Research

Documenting the Inventive Process

Invention, like most creative activities, produces an abundance of records, in a variety of formats.

VIEW 2728 Matching Results

Found 2728 Stories

  • Agriculture and horticulture (Relevance: 5.2052785923754%)
  • Air and space (Relevance: 6.7448680351906%)
  • Archives@NMAH (Relevance: 8.4310850439883%)
  • Chemistry (Relevance: 3.0791788856305%)
  • Food and drink (Relevance: 3.2991202346041%)
  • Industry and manufacturing (Relevance: 7.5513196480938%)
  • Medicine, health, and life sciences (Relevance: 4.5821114369501%)
  • Military technology (Relevance: 3.3357771260997%)
  • Mining and drilling (Relevance: 3.4090909090909%)
  • Patents and trademarks (Relevance: 11.363636363636%)
  • Photography, film, television, and video (Relevance: 3.8856304985337%)
  • Power generation, motors, and engines (Relevance: 3.4457478005865%)
  • Spark!Lab (Relevance: 3.5190615835777%)
  • Textiles and clothing (Relevance: 3.3724340175953%)
  • Transportation (Relevance: 5.975073313783%)
  • Women inventors (Relevance: 3.3357771260997%)
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