Do You Share a Hobby With One of These Renowned Inventors?

Invention is for everyone, and inspiration can come from anywhere! It is each of our unique interests and perspectives that help us to grow, explore and find creative ways to solve problems. Take it from these four awesome National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Inductees who have interesting hobbies beyond their STEM careers. Does your child share a passion with one of these great minds? Perhaps by hearing their story, your child will find a new STEM role model and be inspired to learn more about the inventor’s world changing discoveries – then make a few of their own!

The Art of Creativity

With millions of flights per year, passengers are able to have safe journeys thanks to great minds like engineer Asad Madni, who led the development of the lifesaving MEMS gyroscope for aerospace and automotive safety. Madni continues to make contributions to the field of engineering that benefit society and humanity, but he also has been passionate about art since childhood. He brings invention and art to life in incredible ways by treating his engineering solutions as artistic expressions and prioritizing creativity in his work.

Cooking up Chemistry

Chemist Margaret Wu transformed the field of synthetic lubricants used in passenger car engines, wind turbines and other industrial machines. She also uncovered a love for culinary experimentation after noting similarities between the work that happens in kitchens and in labs. Spices, meats, vegetables and other ingredients come together and interact through complex chemical reactions to form a delicious dish. Just like in the kitchen, time, temperature and other considerations affected her “ingredients” in the lab to create compounds. By changing her recipes little by little, in the lab and kitchen alike, she constantly strives for improvement!

In Tune With Innovation

Radia Perlman, inventor of robust network routing and bridging, found a way to bring her aptitude for science and music together in perfect harmony. As a child, she was encouraged to explore a variety of interests, including classical music, piano and French horn. Her understanding of these artistic endeavors helped her to approach music and engineering similarly – with a goal of understanding the bigger picture and an enthusiasm to learn a new “language,” whether it be in music or computer programming.

Engineering Accessible Sports

With over 1 million people across the world relying on wheelchairs each day for greater mobility and inclusion, engineer Rory Cooper’s inventions in wheelchair technology are revolutionary. Throughout his life, Cooper has always been an athlete. He even has competed in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the Paralympics – setting a world record and bringing home a bronze medal! The work he has done in building wheelchairs for racing has inspired his designs for wider-use models as well. Cooper continues to advance health, mobility and access for people everywhere as he expands technologies for manual and electric wheelchairs.

Keep Learning and Growing

To hear other, exciting information about impactful innovators, we encourage you to check out other Inductee stories!