Impact Spotlights

Training engineering students to assess environmental responsibility improves the health of our planet

Over the past few years, inventor Jason Kang says he has developed his love for the “tangibility” of inventing, while discovering the impact he can have on the lives of others. At age 23, he has been involved in three startup companies and has helped invent an additive for disinfectants to combat life-threatening infectious diseases…

By Cindy Cooper, Program Officer, The Lemelson Foundation A sterile-yet-reusable device that enables providers to offer minimally-invasive biopsies at lower cost . . . Packing materials made from mushroom matter . . . Home insulation made from hemp stalks . . . These are just a few samples of how young inventors have embedded sustainability…

By Carol Dahl On August 21st The Lemelson Foundation joined thousands of organizations in celebrating World Entrepreneurs’ Day, an event designed to raise awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership in our lives. And from November 13-19, we will join 20,000 groups from across 170 nations celebrating Global Entrepeneurship Week. But this year’s…

By Carol Dahl, Executive Director, The Lemelson Foundation Spring is often a time when we have a heightened awareness of changes taking place in our environment, and last month was no exception. April 22 saw hundreds of thousands assemble in Washington, DC and dozens of other cities nationwide to celebrate Earth Day with a first-ever March…

In September 2016, Dr. Ramesh Raskar, an associate professor at the MIT Media Lab and holder of more than 75 patents, was awarded the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize for his work in developing radical imaging solutions. The Wall Street Journal called Raskar’s inventions “trailblazing,” citing a growing resume that includes the co-invention of an ultra-fast imaging…

Rensselaer receives $500,000 gift from The Lemelson Foundation to honor and memorialize legendary teacher and mentor with state-of-the-art studio for student inventors and entrepreneurs Troy, MI – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) President Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., has announced that the Institute has received a significant gift from The Lemelson Foundation to establish the Burt Swersey Inventor’s Studio,…