The Smithsonian's Lemelson Center

10/19/2026

Throughout history, new technologies have changed the ways people create, experiment, and bring ideas to life. Today, AI is becoming another tool in the creative process, giving songwriters new ways to explore possibilities and develop their ideas.

Join us for Musical Innovation in the Age of AI on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the National Museum of American History.

Human-centered composer inti figgis-vizueta, computational creativity expert Maya Ackerman, and music journalist David Hajdu will explore how AI is reshaping songwriting and the relationship between people and technology. Together, they’ll consider the possibilities and pitfalls of AI-assisted creativity and what this emerging technology can teach us about the nature of invention itself.

This free program is open to all audiences and includes a live demonstration and conversation, audience Q&A, and light reception with book and vinyl LP sales and signing. Museum doors open at 6:00 PM and the program begins at 6:30 PM.

Registration is required:

A demonstration of music composition using human-centered and AI methods followed by a moderated conversation, audience Q&A, and reception.

10/13/2026

We’re excited to announce Dr. Joanna K. Garner as the new director of the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation!

Dr. Garner brings more than two decades of experience in educational research and cross-sector partnerships, along with a deep familiarity with the Center’s work. Over the past five years, she has collaborated with our team as a researcher and education consultant on initiatives including the “Change Your Game” exhibition and Spark!Lab.

She is the third director in the Center’s 30-year history and the first woman to serve in the role. We look forward to working with Dr. Garner as we continue to explore the history and impact of invention and create opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in innovation.

Read the full announcement and learn more about Dr. Garner and her vision for the Center: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonians-lemelson-center-appoints-joanna-k-garner-new-director

08/19/2026

How does someone become an inventor? There’s no single answer, and that’s exactly what we hope students learn from Inspiring STEM Pathways.

Inspiring STEM Pathways features real stories from contemporary inventors who took different paths to turning their ideas into something real. Along the way, they talk about the questions they asked, the challenges they faced, and what kept them going.
We created this series to help students see that being inventive is about being curious, trying things out, learning from what doesn’t work, and sticking with it.

Watch our 2-minute intro video to meet some of the inventors featured in the series and get a glimpse of what’s possible when students see invention as something they can be part of, then explore the full series and free educational resources: https://invention.si.edu/invention-stories/inspiring-stem-pathways

Who inspired you to become curious about how things work? Tell us in the comments!

07/13/2026

Biomedical engineer Michelle Khine, pictured here, knew that parts of the world with limited healthcare often had drugs to treat disease, but not the capacity to diagnose it early. So, she adapted her favorite childhood toy—Shrinky Dinks—into a low-cost device for medical diagnostic tests.

Khine first created patterns on Shrinky Dinks sheets with a laser printer. When she baked the Shrinky Dinks, the ink left ridges that she used as a mold, creating channels to hold small amount of bodily fluids, like blood or saliva, for testing. Khine’s inexpensive miniature devices make diagnosing treatable diseases more accessible and affordable!

Explore the inventions of other brilliant women in our free “Picturing Women Inventors” poster exhibit developed in collaboration with our colleagues at The Smithsonian's Lemelson Center! Request your copy here: https://s.si.edu/4dD9Cwx

07/13/2026

Tomorrow, we’re introducing something new!

Join us at 2 p.m. on July 14 during the Smithsonian National Education Summit for “Inventor Stories to Inspire the Next Generation,” where we’ll launch Inspiring STEM Pathways, a new educational video series from the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center.

Meet contemporary inventors, hear the stories behind their journeys, and discover free, classroom-ready resources designed to help middle school students explore their own inventive thinking and the many possibilities within STEM.

Register for the Smithsonian National Education Summit and join us tomorrow: https://smithsonianeducation.swoogo.com/ses2026/home

Can’t join us? Explore Inspiring STEM Pathways: https://bit.ly/4fnURiF

06/03/2026

At noon on Wednesday, June 3, Eric Hintz, director of The Smithsonian's Lemelson Center, will present reflections on regional innovation cultures while highlighting Mississippi’s significant contributions to American industry and innovation, for at the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Visitors are also encouraged to view "Mississippi Made," a special exhibit currently on display at the museums, sponsored by Wayne-Sanderson Farms.

This free event will also stream live on the MDAH page and YouTube channel. This program is part of the "Making History, Making Change Lecture Series" organized by Smithsonian Affiliations as part of the Smithsonian’s "Our Shared Future: 250". It is supported in part by the Dreier Family, Johanna and Ken Kim Family, Vaishali Shah Chadha and Family, and Michael Vu and Meridel Bulle-Vu.

05/07/2026

Now Available: The Lemelson Center’s 2025 Activities Report!

From dynamic public programs and new educational initiatives to thought-provoking exhibitions and digital storytelling, this report highlights how we engaged audiences of all ages throughout the year around themes of innovation and invention.

Whether you joined us in person, tuned in online, or are discovering our work for the first time, we invite you to explore the report and learn how the Lemelson Center is inspiring generations of creative problem-solvers.

View the full report here: https://invention.si.edu/invention-stories/2025-lemelson-center-activities-report

04/14/2026

In February, we had the honor of hosting Harry Edwards for our Innovative Lives program. Through his scholarship and advocacy, Edwards established the sociology of sports and reframed the role of athletes in conversations about equity, power, and public life.

In our latest blog post, revisit his reflections on the intellectual and social foundations of his work and watch the full program recording:

In February 2026, the Center hosted a virtual conversation with Harry Edwards, the founder of the sociology of sport as an academic discipline.