Dear SIGCIS– We invite you to join the Lemelson Center’s week-long webinar series, Black Inventors and Innovators: New Perspectives. The SIGCIS community may especially enjoy presentations by software developer Tyrone Grandison (Session 3) and software-media scholars Charlton McIlwain and André Brock (both Session 5). Hope you can attend! ---Eric Hintz, Lemelson Center, Smithsonian Institution, hintze@si.edu<mailto:hintze@si.edu> Black Inventors and Innovators: New Perspectives A free week-long webinar series Convened by the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center<https://invention.si.edu/> November 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, 2020 | 1:00-2:30pm ET daily Registration: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PTe1rHzsTG2FSaEHoTcb2w Details: https://invention.si.edu/black-inventors-and-innovators-new-perspectives The Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation<https://invention.si.edu/> invites you to attend our upcoming webinar series, Black Inventors and Innovators: New Perspectives<https://invention.si.edu/black-inventors-and-innovators-new-perspectives>. The program is free and open to the public and will convene daily November 16–20, 2020 from 1:00-2:30pm ET. This week-long program will draw renewed attention to historic and contemporary inventors of color and Black technology consumers, while discussing strategies for building a more equitable innovation ecosystem. Through presentations by an interdisciplinary group of thought leaders and engaged discussions with our online audience, this “state of the field” workshop will identify critical questions, seek out new case studies, and articulate theories, concepts and themes to inform the next generation of research, archival collecting, museum exhibitions, and invention education initiatives. Session 1: UNDERREPRESENTATION and INVISIBILITY Rayvon Fouché,<https://www.rayvonfouche.com/> Professor of American Studies, Purdue University Lisa D. Cook<https://lisadcook.net/>, Professor of Economics and International Relations, Michigan State University Moderator: Cathleen S. Lewis<https://airandspace.si.edu/people/staff/cathleen-lewis>, Curator, Space History Department, National Air and Space Museum Session 2: PIPELINES and PATHWAYS: INVENTION EDUCATION, TRAINING, and MENTORING Amy E. Slaton<https://amyeslaton.com/about-amy-e-slaton/>, Professor, Department of History, Drexel University James Holly, Jr.<https://education.wayne.edu/profile/es9525>, Assistant Professor of Urban Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Education, Wayne State University Moderator: Yolanda L. Comedy<https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolanda-comedy-0734487/>, Science and Technology Policy Consultant Session 3: BLACK INVENTORS and INNOVATORS at WORK Tyrone Grandison<https://www.tyronegrandison.org/press-kit.html>, Chief Technology Officer, Pearl Long Term Care Solutions Tahira Reid Smith<https://engineering.purdue.edu/ME/People/ptProfile?resource_id=74127>, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University Moderator: Monica M. Smith<https://americanhistory.si.edu/profile/509>, Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, National Museum of American History Session 4: COMMERCIALIZATION and INSTITUTIONS Kara W. Swanson<https://www.northeastern.edu/law/faculty/directory/swanson.html>, Professor of Law and Affiliate Professor of History, Northeastern University Shontavia Johnson<https://shontavia.com/about/>, Associate Vice President for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Clemson University Moderator: Crystal Marie Moten<https://www.crystalmoten.com/>, Curator of African American History, Division of Work and Industry, National Museum of American History Session 5: HOW HAVE BLACK INDIVIDUALS & COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCED TECHNOLOGY? Charlton McIlwain<https://www.nyu.edu/about/leadership-university-administration/office-of-the-president/office-of-the-provost/faculty-affairs/charlton-mcilwain.html>, Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement and Development, New York University André Brock<http://andrebrock.academia.edu/>, Associate Professor, School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Georgia Tech Moderator: Eric<https://invention.si.edu/eric-hintz> S. Hintz<https://invention.si.edu/eric-hintz>, Historian, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, National Museum of American History Accessibility: The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. Real-time captioning (CART) will be provided for our online program. For other questions about accessibility, please email nmahprograms@si.edu<mailto:nmahprograms@si.edu>. Our Sponsor: The Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center gratefully acknowledges The Lemelson Foundation<https://www.lemelson.org/> for its generous support of the Black Inventors and Innovators: New Perspectives webinar series. Registration: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PTe1rHzsTG2FSaEHoTcb2w