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Have you ever had an idea for an invention that you believed could be successful if only you had more space, more time, more creativity, or more money? Environmental factors, individual abilities, resource limitations, and so much more contribute to each person's inventive process, but constraints often help rather than hinder creativity by fostering a culture of problem solving.

Join us for a very special online 25th Year Anniversary Innovative Lives panel discussion with inventor alumni from past Innovative Lives programs to explore the ways in which inventing within constraints can often be the best pathway to solutions.

Speakers include:

Lonnie Johnson - Beyond his wildly-popular invention, the Super Soaker water gun, and his work on high-performance Nerf dart guns, Dr. Lonnie Johnson has devoted his life to solving some of the world’s most complex technological problems. He has received more than 100 patents, many of which are related to clean energy.

Tiffany Kelley - Tiffany Kelley is a nurse who saw her colleagues writing details about patients on scraps of paper and even paper towels throughout their shifts. The nurses would then verbally relay this vital information at shift changes, introducing an unnecessary risk of forgetting a detail or misreading a scribbled, smudged note. She decided to bridge this communication gap with a nurse-focused app called Know My Patient.

Mike Augspurger - After starting his own bicycle company, Mike Augspurger wanted to explore the possibilities of an off-road handcycle for wheelchair athletes. He designed his One-Off handcycle to let riders pedal with their arms and steer with their chests, while experiencing high performance and the smoothest ride possible over rough terrain. In 17 years, Augspurger built nearly 200 handcycles.

Tim Pula - The Interpretive Exhibits Inventor for the Lemelson Center’s Spark!Lab, Pula specializes in creating activities that encourage museum visitors to explore and engage in the history and process of invention. Some examples of Tim’s hands-on activities include: Tweak a Prosthetic Hand; Invent a Piece of Protective Gear; Create a Multi-Use Space; and Produce Great Sounding Beats.

Moderated by: Monica M. Smith, Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation, Smithsonian's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.

This program is part of the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention an Innovation's Innovative Lives series, now in its 25th year, which gives participants the opportunity to engage in a public conversation with diverse inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs about their pioneering work and careers.

The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. CART captioning will be available for this program. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu.