Despite Geek Image, Inventors Respected By Teens, 2001
Lemelson-MIT Invention Index Finds
- Young Americans See Inventors as Vital but Unexciting;
Future of American Inventing Murky -
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 10 Often stereotyped as brainy
geeks with coke-bottle glasses, inventors seldom win any teen popularity
contests. Their status, however, is rising among teens. According to the
latest Lemelson-MIT Invention Index(TM), an annual survey of Americans'
perceptions about inventing and innovating, teens do recognize the value and
importance of inventors when survival is at stake. Using the hypothetical and
popular example of being stranded on a desert island, the study finds that
almost half of all teens (46%) surveyed would choose the company of an
inventor over a famous musician, athlete or actor -- the prevailing teen role
models. This indicates that inventors, although not revered as celebrities,
hold a vital place in the minds of many American teens.
Best Person to be Stranded with on a Desert Island
Inventors Musicians Actors/Actresses President of the U.S. Athletes
46% 19% 13% 9% 6%
Source: 2001 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index(TM)
Future of American Invention Threatened
Despite the surprising recognition given to inventors by teens in the
study, the overall findings are not good news for the future of American
invention. Teens still don't aspire to become inventors. They would rather
assume more traditional professions -- doctors, lawyers and teachers. The
only careers ranking lower in the Lemelson-MIT study are politicians and
journalists, revealing that much more needs to be done to foster interest in
invention among American youth.
"In the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century nothing is going to be
more important than being able to invent the new and to re-invent the old. In
this environment, being an inventor has to be seen as a normal activity and
not something reserved for geniuses. Bringing about this transformation in
attitudes is what the Lemelson-MIT Program is all about," says Professor
Lester C. Thurow, chairman of the Lemelson-MIT Awards Board.
The task of motivating teens to invent is even more daunting due to the
unglamorous image and general unpopularity of inventors as role models. In
this year's Invention Index(TM), teens rank inventors lowest (8%) among five
categories of people they would most like to meet. In line with prevailing
stereotypes, the most popular professionals that teens want to meet are
musicians (30%), athletes (23%) and actors (22%).
What Inspires Teens?
Although teens express only a lukewarm interest in inventing, the
Invention Index(TM) highlights many good reasons why teens would become
inventors, and provides a road map that can help educators better understand
what inspires inventiveness in adolescents. Altruism is the primary motive
behind why teens would invent-to help mankind (43%) and to improve or preserve
the quality of life (34%). Surprisingly, money and fame rank lowest of five
choices. Apparently, teens have their societal priorities in order when it
comes to recognizing the benefits of inventing.
Reasons that Teens Would Become Inventors
Help Mankind Preserve Quality of Life Have Fun Make Money Achieve Fame
43% 34% 32% 27% 17%
Source: 2001 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index(TM)
Adults and Teens Disagree on Role of Inventors
This year's study also compares the attitudes of American adults toward
several of the same issues explored among teens. Unlike teens, adults not
only recognize the importance of inventors in society, but also view inventors
as role models worthy of attention. Whereas the popularity of inventors among
teens suffers by comparison to musicians and athletes, it remains highest
among adults, who would choose to meet an inventor before all other types of
professionals cited in the study.
Other issues explored by this year's study include:
-- Inventions Americans cannot live without: The automobile and light bulb
still beat the computer. Despite the proliferation of computers and
society's reliance on information technology, the auto is the one
invention that Americans cannot live without. Although the gap between
cars and computers has narrowed over the past five years, these
findings mirror those of the 1996 Invention Index(TM), where the
automobile topped personal computers 63% vs. 8%. The light bulb is
second in both surveys.
-- Teens' wish list for the new President's agenda: Curing cancer and
ending hunger. Most American teens surveyed say "finding a cure for
cancer" is the most important issue for the new President to tackle,
followed by "eliminating hunger." Colonizing space can wait.
About the Study
The Lemelson-MIT Invention Index(TM) has explored Americans' perceptions
about inventing and innovating since 1996. Previous topics that have been
covered include:
-- The importance of parents' and teachers' role in fostering invention
and innovation in today's youth (2000):
http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/index00.html
-- Which are the most profitable career areas for inventors (1999):
http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/index99.html
-- Which areas of research and development American taxpayers support
(1998): http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/index98.html
-- Whether certain inventions make life easier or more complex (1997):
http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/index2.html
-- Which inventions Americans could not live without (1996):
http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/press2.html
Methodology
The 2001 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index Survey was conducted by Bruskin
Research from a nationally representative sample of 1,010 adults and
500 teenagers. The interviews were conducted between November 17-21, 2000.
About the Lemelson-MIT Program
Based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, the Lemelson-MIT Program was established in 1994 by the late
independent inventor Jerome H. Lemelson and his wife, Dorothy. The Program
celebrates inventor/innovator role models through outreach activities and
annual awards including the world's largest for invention, the $500,000
Lemelson-MIT Prize. The Program encourages young Americans to pursue careers
in the fields of science, engineering, technology and entrepreneurship. The
Lemelson-MIT Program is funded by the Lemelson Foundation, which supports
other invention initiatives at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American
History, Hampshire College, the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators
Alliance and the University of Nevada, Reno. For more information about the
Lemelson-MIT Program, please visit its Web site at http://web.mit.edu/invent.
