Greatest Innovators of all time for young Americans 16-25 year olds

Greatest Innovators of all time for young Americans 16-25 year olds

In a survey conducted by the Lemelson-MIT Program, among 16-25 year old Americans (Young America), primarily to find the ‘innovation role model’ for young people in US – Thomas Edison topped the List, with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, getting half the votes, at number two position.

Below are the greatest innovators of all time, for young Americans:

Thomas Edison _____________52 Percent
Steve Jobs _____________24 Percent
Alexander Bell _____________10 percent
Marie Curie _____________5 percent
Mark Zuckerberg _____________3 percent
Amelia Earhart _____________3 percent
TempleGrandin _____________2 percent

The fact that -- for Young America, Thomas Edison is the world's greatest innovator of all time, ahead of Steve Jobs and Zukerberg (who are contemporaries of the respondents) ; made the academics behind the survey infer that invention and innovation are primarily taught in history class, not the math and science courses that are the foundation for careers in invention and innovation.

This particular fact made the academics suggest a need to inculcate a understanding of innovation, among children right at middle school level. According to academics, if maths and science are not taught properly at the elementary school level, it’s hard to pick up the nuances at the High School; and even more difficult at the College Level. This lack of proper understanding of the math and science courses that are the foundation for careers in invention and innovation, makes a high school kid, typically a 16-17 year old, makes him/her see innovation an insurmountable task; and making him/her pick her innovation role models from History.

This became amply clear when; 60 percent of the respondents feel inhibited in pursing inventive careers themselves. 34 percent — said they simply don’t know enough about these fields.

The above ignorance and reluctance towards innovation, the academics behind the study, believe arises from the perception which sees an innovator as a person toiling all day and night in his filthy laboratory, endlessly. On contrary innovation, if backed by the right understanding of the subject, can be rewarding, both materialistically and individually.

To put more young Americans on the path of innovation, the study suggests thrust on maths and science from innovation point of view right at school levels, which means more mentors coming into classrooms to talk, especially to elementary and middle school students; and providing hands-on experiences inside and outside the classroom at school, high school and college levels. --------

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