Washington, DC – First piloted in 2013, The AAAS-Lemelson Invention Ambassadors Program has served as a platform for inventors to demonstrate their role as change agents in society and as problem solvers. Since its inception, there have been two classes and 14 Ambassadors selected that meet the program’s’ vision to “showcase the human face of inventors in order to inspire, inform and influence thought leaders and global community.”
Today, we announce the 2016-2017 Class of Invention Ambassadors who will:
- Inspire a new and diverse generation of inventors dedicated to solving difficult global challenge.
- Inform on the components needed to create inventions that sustainably solve global problem
- Influence policy makers, thought leaders & public
The 2016-2017 AAAS-Lemelson Invention Ambassadors:
Aaron Baughman – Senior Technical Staff Member and Lead Data Scientist, IBM Sports and Entertainment Division
Bertrand Cambou – Professor of Practice, Northern Arizona University
Eric Fossum – Professor at the Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth and Director of the School’s PhD Innovation Program
Rick Hamilton – Client Innovation Leader, IBM Watson IoT Division
Ayanna Howard – Linda J. and Mark C. Smith Chair in Bioengineering in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Zyrobotics
Benjamin Hsiao – Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Stony Brook University
Anthony Mulligan – Founder and CEO, Hydronalix, Inc.
Maria Oden – Professor in the Practice of Engineering in the Dept. of Bioengineering at the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University, and Director of the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) at Rice
Louie Schwartzberg – Award-winning Cinematographer, Director, Producer and Curator, Moving Art
John Warner – Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer, Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, LLC
This diverse group of Invention Ambassadors draws from various backgrounds and research areas and has leading roles in different sectors. The group has over 1,100 patents and has demonstrated: (1) a high regard for the role of invention; (2) an invention track record; (3) an accomplished professional career; (4) a commitment to invention’s role in impacting environmental sustainability; and (5) experience or interest in speaking to audiences.
AAAS and The Lemelson Foundation will welcome and celebrate the 2016-2017 Ambassadors at “Celebrate Invention” on July 14th, where the Invention Ambassadors will join together at AAAS to share their stories as inventors, introduce their inventions and their impact in solving global problems.