Research validates the impact of Invention Education

Continuous research activities at the Lemeleson-MIT program ensure the quality and sustainability of our programmatic efforts. Our research covers topics that delve into cutting-edge education practices and provides critical insights into the impact of Invention Education on student learning, engagement, and self-perceptions. By systematically collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, we make evidence-based decisions leading to the iterative improvement of our programs. By disseminating our research findings through scholarly publications and conference presentations, we advance knowledge of the processes and practices that foster Invention Education nationwide. The research team is led by Michael Cima, PhD; Stephanie Couch, PhD; and Tamara Galoyan, PhD.

Research Team

Invention Education is recognized on a national level

Federal Strategic Plan cover
The Federal Strategic Plan for Advancing STEM Education
The Federal Strategic Plan for Advancing STEM Education and Cultivating STEM Talent, authored by the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education (CoSTEM), was released in November, 2024.  Section 4 focuses on “Building STEM Innovation Capacity” as a federal objective. References to IvE include: "To contribute to the national aspiration, CoSTEM aims to increase opportunities to embed invention education and innovation and entrepreneurship training across the STEM ecosystem."
View the report here.
Scaling and Sustaining cover
Scaling and Sustaining the K-12 STEM Education Innovations
National Academies 2024 publication, Scaling and Sustaining the K-12 STEM Education Innovations, Systemic Challenges and Systems Response Report, (Chapter 9) presents many factors that impact the take-up of innovation in education. LMIT's Partners in Invention Education (PiE) program offers opportunities to address these together.
View report here.
Ice cream samples
Convergence Education: A Guide to Transdisciplinary STEM Learning and Teaching
In November, 2022, The White House released the report Convergence Education: A Guide to Transdisciplinary STEM Learning and Teaching. Invention education is named as one of the promising approaches for transdisciplinary STEM learning and teaching.
View report here.

Lemelson-MIT's Research and Reports

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Addressing the Gender Gap Among Patent Holders Through Invention Education Policies
Stephanie Couch, Leigh B. Estabrooks and Audra Skukauskaite
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Read the full article here
Assessing learning and development through transdisciplinary problem-based invention education offerings
Stephanie Couch, Kelli M. Paul, Michelle Sullivan and Sabiha Sultana
Frontiers in Education
Read the full article here.
Bringing Invention Education Into Middle School Science Classrooms
Helen Zhang, Leigh B. Estabrooks and Tony Perry
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Read the full article here
Developing a use-inspired school and community-based 6th through 12th-grade research and invention ecosystem leading to STEM careers: an ethnographic study of the Science Coach Program
Melinda Kalainoff, Stephanie Couch, Fatiha Bazouche and Jill M. Ott
Frontiers in Education
Read the full article here.
Engaging Latina Students in the Invention Ecosystem
Cristina Saenz and Audra Skukauskaitė
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Read the Research Paper
Enhancing inventiveness for quality of life, competitiveness, and sustainability
Various Authors
Report of the Committee for Study of Invention, sponsored by the Lemelson-MIT Program and the National Science Foundation
Download the executive summary
Download the full report
Heat Reinvented: Using a Lunch Box–Design Project to Apply Multidisciplinary Knowledge and Develop Invention-Related Practices
Various Authors
Read the full article here
Inclusive Pathways to Invention: Racial and Ethnic Diversity Among Collegiate Student Inventors in a National Prize Competiton
April Burrage, Janell Ciemiecki, Stephanie Couch and Ina Ganguli
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Download the full paper
Intersecting Networks Supporting Problem-Based Invention Education
Audra Skukauskait, Cristina Saenz, Michelle Sullivan, Katrina Hull and Jazmin Morales Rodriguez
Read the full article here
Invention as a Complement to High School Chemistry
Varius Authors
Journal of Chemical Education
Read the full article here
Invention Education and The Developing Nature of High School Students’ Construction of An “Inventor” Identity
Stephanie Couch, Audra Skukauskaite and Leigh B. Estabrooks
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Read the full article here.
Invention Education: Preparing The Next Generation of Innovators
Stephanie Couch, Audra Skukauskaite and Judith L. Green
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Explore the articles
Inventors emerging in-school and out-of-school: six iterations of educational design to promote equitable student engagement
Various Authors
Frontiers in Education
Read the full article here
Measuring the Value of Invention
Benjamin M. Miller, David Metz, Jon Schmid, Paige M. Rudin and Marjory S. Blumenthal
RAND Corporation
Read the report
More on report and the prize winners
Researching Invention Education: 2019 – 2025
Download the Research.
Researching Invention Education: White Paper (2019)
Various Authors
Download the white paper
Supporting teachers to lead invention education with high school students
Audra Skukauskaite and Stephanie Couch
Emerald Publishing, Quality Education For All
Read the full article here.
Transforming a National Invention Education Program through a Strength-based Approach
Stephanie Couch and Melinda Z. Kalainoff
AECT, Tech Trends
Read the full article here
Understanding Factors Impacting the Development of Inventors from Diverse Backgrounds
Stephanie Couch, Audra Skukauskaite and Leigh B. Estabrooks
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Download the Research
Where’s the Computer Science in Invention?
Leigh Estabrooks , Helen Zhang , Anthony Perry , An-Me Chung and Stephanie Couch1
Read the White Paper