Designed by 2005 Lemelson-MIT $500,000 Prize winner Woody Norris,the ultralight AirScooter is designed for easy control and maneuverability. Credit: AirScooter

The afterschool, weekend and summer programs at A-MAN in Los Angeles have served over a thousand kids, including these “Future Astronauts.” Credit: A-MAN

Experiential courses at the Lemelson Assistive Technology Development Center at
Hampshire College provide students with hands-on education in applied design, invention
and entrepreneurship

A youngster visiting the Lemelson Center’s Invention at Play exhibition experiments with the Tessellations puzzle, one of many hands-on activities designed to stimulate creative thought. Credit: Smithsonian

Visitors play with principles of aerodynamics, balance and angular momentum in Whirligigs, a multimedia activity in the Invention at Play exhibit that allows them to invent wind-powered devices and try out their designs in front of blowing fans. Credit: Smithsonian Institution

Members of the Palo Alto, CA InvenTeam demonstrate the “Laser Finger” – a low cost laser pointing device and computer that allows quadriplegics to perform basic tasks just by turning their heads.
Credit: Lemelson-MIT

Stephanie Kwolek’s work with polymer fibers has led to such products as Kevlar and Lycra-Spandex. Credit: Michael Branscom

The summer MITE²S (Minority Introduction to Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Science) program at MIT engages promising high school juniors in hands-on technical and invention challenges. Credit: MIT

The Pratt Institute’s NCIIA E-Team developed their technology – GROW – as a hybrid solar and wind panel designed to resemble ivy vines. Credit: Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology

2007 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize winner Nate Ball demonstrates his ATLAS Powered Rope Ascender to a group of school children at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

An electric motorcycle with compressible “crush zones.” Credit: Lemelson-MIT