November 16, 17, 18, 19, & 20, 2020 
1:00PM – 2:30PM ET daily 

Venue: American History Museum
Event Location: online
Cost: No Cost
Accessibility: Real-time captioning

Join the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation for a week-long webinar series drawing renewed attention to historic and contemporary inventors of color and Black technology consumers, while discussing strategies for building a more equitable innovation ecosystem. 

Session Schedule: 

Monday, November 16:  Underrepresentation & Invisibility 

Speakers: 
Rayvon Fouché, Professor of American Studies, Purdue University.
Lisa D. Cook, Professor of Economics and International Relations, Michigan State University. 
Moderated by Cathleen S. Lewis, Curator, Space History Department, National Air and Space Museum. 

Tuesday, November 17:  Pipelines & Pathways: Invention Education, Training, & Mentoring 

Speakers: 
Amy E. Slaton, Professor, Department of History, Drexel University. 
James Holly, Jr., Assistant Professor of Urban Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Education, Wayne State University. 
Moderated by Yolanda L. Comedy, Science and Technology Policy Consultant. 

Wednesday, November 18:  Black Inventors and Innovators at Work 

Speakers: 
Tyrone Grandison, Chief of Technology Officer (Pearl Long-Term Care Solutions, The Telehealth Market, and MStreetX); Chairman, Data-Driven Institute.
Tahira Reid Smith, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University. 
Moderated by Monica M. Smith, Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, National Museum of American History. 

Thursday, November 19:  Commercialization & Institutions 

Speakers: 
Kara W. Swanson, Professor of Law and Affiliate Professor of History, Northeastern University School of Law.
Shontavia Johnson, Associate Vice President for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Clemson University. 
Moderated by Crystal Marie Moten, Curator of African American History, Division of Work and Industry, National Museum of American History.  

Friday, November 20:  How Have Black Individuals & Communities Experienced Technology? 

Speakers:  
Charlton McIlwain, Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement and Development, New York University. 
André Brock, Associate Professor, School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Georgia Tech.
Moderated by Arthur Daemmrich, Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, National Museum of American History.