Invention resources for high school students

I was recently asked to provide some guidance to a 7th grader interested in invention.  How does a high school or junior high school student cultivate such an interest?  I put together the following list and thought that others might not only find it useful, but also suggest additional resources.  Here it is:

1) InvenTeams (http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/), a program run by our sister non-profit called the Lemelson-MIT Program. To utilize this program, the student or parent, would have to convince an inventive high-school teacher to apply for funding with a project in mind. In southern California, the daughter of a college professor get something started at her school by doing most of the heavy lifting insofar as pulling together the team and application. Once established at the school, this is a great experience for kids and potentially the start of an inventors club. The program also publishes a neat little online guide: http://web.mit.edu/invent/h-main.html

2) FIRST USA (http://www.usfirst.org/) is another invention-oriented program, started by Dean Kamen founder of the Segway. This is a cool program that utilizes legos and lego’s mindstorms product to engage in invention utilizing mechanical engineering, computer engineering, robotics, some software coding, et al and teaches them to think creatively about product development/design.

3) The Lemelson Center at the Smithsonian is another grantee. Not only do they have a great exhibit in D.C., but they have some resources listed here: http://invention.smithsonian.org/resources/

4) Search for summer programs at colleges (I know my alma mater, Smith College, used to have one for math and science directed at young girls) that may expose the 7th grader to a ‘higher-level’ of technical training.

5) I once came across a high school student whose father did pro-bono legal work for a collegiate invention team. I think that got the student on an e-team (a team of students that received funding from us to take forward their invention) and able to participate (mostly, I think he was a silent observer) in our venture acceleration workshop. If one were to find a team working on an invention or venture at an area college, perhaps one could network their way onto a team for a rich experience.

Know of additional resources? Please suggest them…

Ammendment January 25th, 2012:

Oh, and if anyone is interested in cultivating science / technology / math / engineering / invention even EARLIER, amongst elementary school kids, feel free to leverage the PPT presentation created for the last three years for ‘Math and Science Day’:
1) Great for K-1st Grade: http://www.slideshare.net/humeraf/why-math
2) Universal for K-1st, 2nd-4th and 5th-6th: http://www.slideshare.net/humeraf/math-science-do-what-you-love … the emphasis varied by each age bracket, as did the Q&A afterwards, but the students were very engaged.
3) I didn’t upload the presentation for the third year, but I used some elements of #2 and featured as the star attraction three different collegiate invention teams that Skype’d in live from MIT, BU and Art Center College of Design for a quick presentation (projected onto a big screen) on what they invented and how math/science played a key role. The Q&A afterwards was a big hit, as students got to come up to the computer one at a time to ask their question and get a real-time answer.

Debut as the technology contributor on WGBY’s (PBS) nightly news program, Connecting Point

Tonight’s the night! Tune into WGBY’s (PBS) nightly news program, Connecting Point at 7:30pm est. and you’ll catch me and show host Carrie Saldo interviewing Paul Reynolds of Consumer Reports about the big Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. http://ow.ly/3LBOm

I’ll post more information and research uncovered about these cool new products tomorrow.

WGBY Announces NEW Nightly News Program, Connecting Points

Carrie L. Saldo, the host of the new WGBY series "Connecting Points", with producers Jim J. Madigan, left, and David C. Fraser. (Image from MassLive.com; The Republican staff photo by Don Treeger)

I’m really looking forward to taking in the new WGBY nightly news program, Connecting Points.  Its very first program airs tonight at 7:30 pm est.  Cori Urban of The Springfield Republican wrote about it in today’s paper; check out the Masslive article here.  I think there’s so many interesting things happening around the Valley that need a voice and I’m really psyched that the local PBS affiliate, WGBY, is going to start bringing those to light.  No offense, of course, to the commercial stations NBC/Channel 22 or ABC/ Channel 40 (I’m still going to turn to my friend Brian Lapis for the weather), but I’m supplement my knowledge of stabbings and fires with information uncovering all the cool things that are going on around the Valley.

In the spirit of full-disclosure, I should tell you that I’m going to be producing some content for this show.  More details very soon.  Needless to say, you’ll probably be seeing a bit more blogging from me so STAY TUNED.

What I didn’t realize until recently was that WGBY is a subsidiary of WGBH in Boston… and that WGBH produces A THIRD of PBS’ national content! The produce such well-known brands as FRONTLINE, American Experience, Antiques Roadshow, Masterpiece and Nova… right here in the great old state of Massachusetts. Thank goodness for This Old House and Victory Garden, for I wouldn’t have nearly as much inspiration for those home-improvement and garden-expansion projects. For a complete list of WGBH programming, check out their website.

…and, of course, be sure to watch the first episode of Connecting Points tonight at 7:30pm est.

Inventor’s Digest Article

I was in the March issue of Inventor’s Digest:

Click here for the article: http://www.inventorsdigest.com/?p=3281

Math and Science: Do What You Love

Math and Science is cool! Or so I hope this is the message that Hadley Elementary School students walked away with after hearing my half hour talk on this year’s Math Day.

Math & Science: Do what you love

View more presentations from Humera Fasihuddin.

Walking in to the school cafeteria to the music blaring and very cool ‘OK Go’s This Too Shall Pass’ on the big screen immediately captured and engaged their attention. “How do you think Math and Science might have been used in the making of that video?” I asked after the video. Delivered to three different age brackets (Kindergarden through 2nd, 3rd/4th, and 5th/6th), it didn’t matter the age … students immediately honed in the complex task these artists had of planning and coordinating lots of things, from music to angles to how different objects weight and volume had to be taken into consideration. Takeaway: Even if you’re an artist, musician, or writer, math and science is fundamental to your success.

The study of math can lead kids to pursue very cool futures and that the real trick was finding out what they loved to do… what they were passionate about. “Why should you ‘do what you love’?” I asked. “Because if you don’t, you’ll quit it,” answered one 6th grader. So, I went on to present examples of people who studied math or were part of math clubs/programs that went on to pursue very cool professions (found through searches on LinkedIn). One important point made before we jumped in was that the types of jobs that will be available to them when they graduate from High School or College are VERY different from those that were available to their parents or grandparents. If they wanted to pursue the coolest of these careers, they MUST focus on math and science today.

We started with the beloved Apple iPhone, a universally favorite high tech gadget. We then took a deep-dive look at movies we love and discussed animation at Pixar. I took this opportunity to show them how the bar charts they might study now lead to XY graphs, then study of the 3-dimensional plane (XYZ), then calculus which can lead them to a future in animation or the creation of video games. Takeaway: Even though today’s math may seem hard, it is vital that they master it in order to have the most career choices and pursue the coolest of professions.

We discussed people who studied math and went on to pursue jobs at Google, ESPN, ABC Family and Disney. We talked about Micheal Jordan as a math major who pursued a career in sports and is also an exceptional businessman. Finally, I highlighted three female inventors: the inventor of Barbie Dolls who founded toy giant Mattel, the inventor of the Chocolate Chip Cookie who went on to license her recipe to Nestle’s Toll House Cooke (so they could print in on every package of chocolate chips sold) and the inventor of the Kevlar bullet-proof vest sold by Dupont.

I closed by telling them my story. I use my math major to help students and faculty in colleges across America bring their inventions and innovations to market. I also told them that I wasn’t always good at math… in fact, I got C’s until sophomore year in high school. I didn’t believe I was good at math until I found the right teacher, after which it all clicked. Once I had the confidence of realizing that I could work hard, focus and figure it out… I knew I could do any kind of math.

I encourage anyone who reads this to download the presentation, make it yours and go present to your local elementary school, junior high or high school. Today’s girls and boys need to hear these messages and it’s in your power to make it happen. Let me know how it works out.

Rate of Generational Change Correlated to Moore’s Law

I have a hypothesis. My hypothesis is that the rate of generational change is correlated to Moore’s Law. Moore’s Law, for those unfamiliar, is that processor speed doubles every 18 months. This law has basically enabled computers, mobile phones, videoconferencing, virtual worlds, 3D imaging and more to dramatically change how we do things.

Recently, my 30-something colleagues have been talking about mobile phone and social media usage amongst the 20-something generation behind us, and the teens bringing up the rear. Teens are texting without viewing the 3×3 pad on their not-very-smart phones. Literally, people are thumbing away at their phone while doing a bazillion other things, least of which is to actually look at the keyboard. Could it be that a whole generation of people will have advanced thumb functionality in that way, or suffer from carpal tunnel of the thumb?

Today a friend reported seeing a study about our younger generation being addicted to social media (found it here). Teens actually suffering from anxiety and depression when away from social sites. Now the math major in me is wondering whether the study was normalized to factor in the rampant anxiety and depression teens feel at this stage ANYWAYS, but I do hear lots of people reporting that the divide is getting deeper.

So, calling all scientists… here’s a research study idea. Please verify my hypothesis that the generational divide is correlated to Moore’s law. And, when you do, please tweet it.

Lauch Your Own E-commerce Store!

It took a week and a half, but I’m pleased to announce my recent accomplishment of launching the Route9Auto e-commerce store!  Small businesses typically don’t have the money to pay for custom-built e-commerce websites.  However, there are several new Internet tools that make it was relatively easy to develop a robust online  store.  Navigating the choices is the hard part.  That’s where I can help.

http://route9auto.myshopify.com/

I loved the experience so much, that I offer to serve as your coach in setting up your own e-commerce store. Your DIY efforts with a knowledgeable guide like me can help ensure your business ‘gets it’ and can help build a successful and scaleable e-commerce store. Contact me at humera@humera.com or 413-222-5400 to get started.

Venturing For Survival

This is a quick blog post designed to provoke a question…

Does anyone out there still intend to be able to retire by working a 9 to 5 job… working for a company owned by someone other than you… adding to a 401K… and counting on pension/SS to take you into your golden years?

I just don’t see it. I don’t see how anyone can reasonably raise a family, put three kids through college and retire one day without driving forward a successful venture where one has a solid equity stake. And still, there are no guarantees of success… but you have to play to win.

Comments anyone? How many of you are venturing or working for someone else and venturing on the side?

Dear President Obama and President Karzai

Dear President Obama and President Karzai,

Desperate times call for desperate, and perhaps creative, measures. In response to the NPR report from May 19, 2009 called “Assassinations On The Rise In Afghanistan” (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104263248), I will offer from my humble viewpoint an idea for your consideration.

With technology as powerful and empowering as it is, put money into communications infrastructure that cannot be readily destroyed. If we really want to affect change then we need to protect people who are taking the stand… like Sitara Achakzai, the prominent female politician and women’s rights advocate who was gunned down outside her home as she chatted with her neighbor, or any of the dozens of politicians, government employees, activists and Muslim clerics have been targeted by the well-organized Taliban militants in an attempt to silence critics and disrupt the government. Let’s arm them with the protocols and technological tools that enable them to do their jobs without being open targets.

I suggest that people in power are given mobile communications tools that enable them to write and speak to the population and collaborate with other leaders in remote and safe areas. I suggest we enable the good guys to promote a message of piece, equality and social development through technological tools which broadcast them to the farthest reaches. I suggest they sign up for leadership duties agreeing to certainly safety protocols, and the use of certain technological tools, so as to ensure their survival and effectively build a society that can stomp out extremist forces.

From innovations coming out of academia and early-stage companies, to used 2nd hand cell-phones, I believe some of the simplest and commonly available tools could be game-changing if placed in the right hands and implemented correctly.

With respect,
Humera Fasihuddin.

Good Samaritan Finds My iPhone

Dear Commander Willis,

Thank you so much for finding my iPhone on the DC Metro and for trying to get a hold of the owner right away. Panic was setting in as I arrived at Reagan National and realized that my iPhone was missing. Frantically, I began using my computer to Skype my office-mates, asking them to call my cell and to track down housekeeping at the hotel. Then, I remembered that my attache case took a tumble when the Metro began to leave the station. I thought my iPhone was a goner. I was imagining the worst – identity theft – and about to contact AT&T to shut off the phone. That was when my spouse emailed me that a kind man called with news that he had found my phone and would FedEx it the next day. Within seconds, my office mates Skyped me the message that you had called there as well. I was moved to tears right there at the airport. Thank you for being considerate and communicating so quickly that you had found it. And, thank you for sending it along. I will walk more optimistically through life knowing that there are more good samaritans amongst us than not.

Thank you for protecting our country and my iPhone.

Forever grateful,

Humera Fasihuddin.