Social sciences/Political science/Government/Public policy/Science policy/Intellectual property/Patents
The new class of Invention Ambassadors represent the spirit of today’s inventors through their dedication to improving the world we live in and inspiring the next generation of inventors. They are a diverse group of eight inventors who are driving advancements in accessibility, security, healthcare delivery, and sustainability, among other areas. Members of this class include representatives of the public and private sectors, small businesses, academia, and Fortune 500 companies.
Learn more about our 2018-2019 Invention Ambassadors and Alumni Ambassadors.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and The Lemelson Foundation have joined forces to create the AAAS-Lemelson Invention Ambassadors Program designed to celebrate and highlight the importance of invention and inventors.
Through our partnership, we strive to help cultivate a new and diverse generation of inventors and increase global understanding of the role of invention in creating new products and building new businesses, and the importance of inventors and invention education in building economies and fostering innovation.
In 2014 AAAS, in partnership with the Lemelson Foundation, launched the Invention Ambassadors Program designed to celebrate and highlight the importance of invention and inventors. The program is designed to showcase the modern faces of invention that are addressing the grand challenges confronting humanity. The Invention Ambassadors are deployed to address key audiences across the country to inspire and encourage a new and diverse generation of inventors, increase global understanding of the role of invention in creating new products and building new businesses, illustrate the importance of inventors and invention education in building economies and fostering innovation, and celebrate inventors who work to address issues of environmental sustainability and social good.
The program has recognized 40 inventors holding over 1,800 patents as Invention Ambassadors over the past 5 years. AAAS provides the Ambassadors with support, training, and the platform required to speak passionately about the importance of invention, the invention ecosystem, and the future of invention. The Invention Ambassadors annually address a diverse audience of students, education leaders, STEM professionals, policy makers, and other key stakeholders.