America.gov-Innovation: Introduction

Egyptian American Wins Highest U.S. Science Honor

Daniel Gorelick — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:29:58 -0400

Mostafa El-Sayed receives the National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest science award, for work on small compounds known as nanomaterials. “We're proud to honor a new generation of people who have strived for excellence, people whose discoveries have changed America and the world,” President Bush says.

Norway-U.S. Cooperation Fuels Million-Dollar Kavli Prizes

Chris Brodie — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:07:06 -0400

Seven researchers from Japan, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom receive the inaugural Kavli Prizes for advances in astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Norwegian-born Fred Kavli, now a U.S. citizen, founded the million-dollar awards.

A Robot Conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Paul Levitan — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:16:15 -0400

Asimo, a humanoid robot -- one that mimics the human body in its appearance and actions -- makes its conducting debut at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, directing a song from a musical. Standing at 1 meter 30 centimeters high, Asimo is so short that cellist Yo-Yo Ma has to stoop to shake its hand.

High Energy Prices Stimulate Energy-Saving Concepts

Paul Levitan — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:37:02 -0400

The high energy costs in the last five years have been a catalyst for energy-saving innovation in America. Innovation and the energy-conserving habits of Americans have reversed a long-term trend toward greater energy consumption in the United States.

Innovation in Sports Technology -- Inevitable or Unfair?

Paul Levitan — Mon, 19 May 2008 08:42:22 -0400

Today, controversies abound over the use of technology in sports. Two examples of controversial innovations are the use of Ossur’s Cheetah Flex-Foot and the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit. The cases raise the issue of fairness and equal access in the face of technological innovation.

Extra-Efficient Car Contest Attracts Global Attention

Jaroslaw Anders — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:35:53 -0400

The X Prize challenge to build a superefficient car attracts more than 60 competing teams from the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingd om. Announced at the New York International Auto Show in March, it offers a $10 million award. Road tests and races of prototypes will start in 2009.

Technology and Innovation Make Sports Safe and Accessible

Lauren Monsen — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:10:38 -0400

For more than a century, sports equipment and games have evolved and improved immeasurably. But Americans are not resting on their laurels; they continue to find ways to make equipment and games better, safer, more environmentally friendly and more engaging to their devotees.

Innovations for a Healthier You

Lauren Monsen — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:54:34 -0400

Researchers are making discoveries and advancing knowledge at an ever-increasing rate, with each advancement inspiring still more exploration. New knowledge about health, advances in data analysis, integrated technology and new materials, contribute to the flurry of discovery. Here are some inspiring examples of current research.

Innovative Use of Online Networks Transforming Society

Howard Cincotta — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:10:34 -0400

If you're going to keep up with Ben MacKrell, you'll need a cell phone and an account at Facebook or a similar Web site. MacKrell is typical of a new generation that is redefining important aspects of modern society and culture through the unprecedented ways its members gather information, communicate and stay connected to one another.

Without Profits, Innovation Goes Nowhere in Corporate World

Andrzej Zwaniecki — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:54:48 -0400

Companies continuously must question their knowledge and experience to nourish innovative thinking and must rigorously manage innovation to generate profits, according to experts. Only those companies that can turn their ideas into sales and profits can be called truly innovative, a business expert tells America.gov.

Relearning Education

Helen Rouce — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:56:18 -0400

The role of innovators in a dynamic learning environment is especially significant not only for what they contribute, but also through the example they set for educators and trainers.

Innovations for a Healthier You

Amor Safi — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:49:50 -0400

Musical Innovations

Amor Safi — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:35:09 -0400

Architects Look to Nature and Each Other

Amor Safi — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:33:47 -0400

Playing Into the Future

Amor Safi — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:43:21 -0400

Social Networking 2.0

Amor Safi — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:28:34 -0400

Innovation Transfers Benefit Public and Private Sectors

Jacquelyn S. Porth — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:40:33 -0400

Innovating Makes My Head Work, Says Inventor

Andrzej Zwaniecki — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:59:57 -0400

“As an idea person, I have an advantage of living in different spaces and wearing different hats,” says inventor and entrepreneur Adrian Chernoff. Read more about what stimulates innovative minds.

Secrets of Innovation

Ralph Dannheisser — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:41:29 -0400

“The biggest secret of innovation is that anyone can do it,” says inventor, lecturer and author Scott Berkun. “By the end of this essay, you’ll have all the secrets needed to do it yourself.”

Ask Questions

Ralph Dannheisser — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:05:57 -0400

Try Things Yourself

Ralph Dannheisser — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:21:32 -0400

Attempt, Learn, Attempt Again

Ralph Dannheisser — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:16:00 -0400

Small Business Plays a Big Role in Innovation

Ralph Dannheisser — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:26:37 -0400

Paula King and Susan Lawens turned their common problem of allergies into a thriving business: they started HealthyGoodiesGifts.com, marketing customized gift baskets to those, like themselves, with special dietary needs. Two years later, their business received a Stevie Award for Women in Business as the most innovative company of 2005.

Companies Find Advantages in Moving Near Fiercest Competitor

Elizabeth Kelleher — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:32:15 -0400

Locating business competitors together, which might seem counterintuitive, helps an entire industry succeed, according to many economic development experts. This strategy increases business innovation and boosts wages, according to Michael Porter, a business cluster expert and professor at Harvard University.

Hyperefficient, Supersafe Car Envisioned by International Group

Andrzej Zwaniecki — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:07:02 -0400

Amy Jaffe is surprised that only a few people think she and her colleagues are crazy. The MIT senior and team members from around the world plan to build, in just three years, a hyperefficient, supersafe car that will be produced and used over its lifetime with 95 percent less energy and toxic materials than an average existing vehicle.

Laptop Orchestra Turns Electronic Sounds into Music

Carolee Walker — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:26:16 -0400

One way people often use laptops is to download and play music files. Recently, some musicians have gone a step further, harnessing the ability of laptops to generate all kinds of sounds electronically to use the machines themselves as musical instruments. The computer-generated music is based on new kinds of sounds -- made up of noise and texture -- rather than the traditional sounds of instruments in an orchestra. Using laptops this way is not that different from the way hip-hop artists of the 1970s used turntables to “scratch” old, worn records to talk over music, creating an entirely new musical genre, according to composer and sound artist Scott Smallwood, a co-director of the Princeton Laptop Orchestra in New Jersey.

Dozens of Countries Sign Up for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008

Elizabeth Kelleher — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:58:49 -0400

Economic leaders in other countries recognize that entrepreneurs are a sustaining force for U.S. economic growth. But they do not always understand that the environment that fosters U.S. entrepreneurs as they start businesses includes more than bankruptcy laws to protect a person’s assets if his or her business fails. The environment also includes an attitude that sees failure as a necessary part of the education of a successful leader. Ideas about entrepreneurship, such as the importance of failure, will be discussed worldwide during Global Entrepreneurship Week, scheduled for November 17-23, 2008.

Scientists, Engineers Receive Highest U.S. Science Honors

Cheryl Pellerin — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:21:32 -0400

Twenty-seven scientists and engineers and three corporations receive presidential National Medals of Science and Technology, the United States’ highest honors in science. Their discoveries have led to treatments for HIV/AIDS, refinements of the Big Bang theory of the universe, development of the cell phone and much more.

U.S., International Museums Win Awards for Innovation

Jeffrey Thomas — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:59:34 -0400

An animated Native American folktale, a weekly science news podcast, a sunken treasure map game, a Chicago blues audio tour, a butterfly habitat simulator, an opportunity to play photojournalist on a breaking story and a stock-market simulator game are among the outstanding achievements in museum media recognized by the American Association of Museums in its MUSE Awards for 2007. The MUSE Awards honor ingenuity, creativity and innovation in museum exhibits.

Bush Competitiveness Plan Aims To Reinforce U.S. Innovation

Andrzej Zwaniecki — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 12:56:35 -0400

President Bush launches an initiative to keep the U.S. economy's competitive edge in the global marketplace as large emerging markets quickly catch up with leading industrial countries in technology. The president proposes to double federal funding for critical basic research programs in nanotechnology, supercomputing, alternative energy sources and other areas and to make permanent the research and development tax credit to encourage innovation and ensure that the United States leads in development of new technologies.