(B) historical study of the social and polit-
ical implications of inventions and new tech-
nologies; 
(C) universities seeking research projects 
and external collaborations, and policies that 
promote inventive creativity of students and 
faculty; 
(D) appropriate supporting infrastructure, 
which should be fostered to enable teachers to 
utilize new teaching methods and materials; and 
(E) hands-on activities, visual thinking ex-
periences, historical case studies, and ‘‘how 
things work’’ exercises for all students, not just 
engineering or science majors; and 
(3) initiate, strengthen, and expand initiatives 
to involve young people directly in the invention 
process, including— 
(A) efforts to support teams in high 
schools and colleges that work collaboratively 
with the private or local government sectors to 
invent useful products or processes; 
(B) realistic, open-ended, design-oriented 
activities, which can be included in university 
engineering courses, with the primary goal of 
teaching the important principles of a field in 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:40 Mar 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1492.IH
H1492
bajohnson on PROD1PC60 with BILLS
ways that will promote inventive creativity in 
the application of these principles; 
(C) a network of community centers, ‘‘in-
vention homes’’, or ‘‘free workshops’’ that 
would provide access to the tools, materials, and 
flexible space so important to invention, to be 
based in schools, museums, or other locations; 
(D) workshops that would allow teachers 
to learn by experience how to effectively lead a 
project-based classroom; and 
(E) networks of innovators and social en-
trepreneurs both domestically and internation-
ally. 
(c) DISSEMINATION.—The National Science Founda-
tion shall develop and implement measures, including 
workshops, for the dissemination of curriculum tools devel-
oped under this section. 
SEC. 4. INVENTIVENESS PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the National Science Foundation shall imple-
ment a public awareness and outreach campaign relating 
to invention and inventiveness. The public awareness and 
outreach campaign shall— 
(1) foster public events, including competitions, 
public displays, traveling exhibitions, and other ways 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:40 Mar 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1492.IH
H1492
bajohnson on PROD1PC60 with BILLS
to increase the public profile of inventors and inven-
tiveness; and 
(2) establish additional awards and prizes hon-
oring inventors, with the objective of stimulating in-
vention in areas of greatest need, as well as of rais-
ing the stature of inventors and invention in the eyes 
of young people. 
SEC. 5. ENGINEERING AND SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 
PROGRAM ON INVENTION. 
The National Science Foundation shall establish en-
gineering and social science research programs on the 
process of invention and the teaching of inventiveness. The 
research programs shall— 
(1) be aimed at a deeper understanding of the 
creative mind and creative environment, the meas-
urement of inventiveness, diffusion of teaching of in-
ventive creativity, and rapid learning as part of the 
crossing of boundaries of convention, expectation, 
and disciplines that is at the heart of invention; 
(2) include study of the influence of flexible 
learning environments and role of parents, teachers, 
mentors, and broader social institutions; 
(3) study the impact on inventive creativity of 
past major programs of Federal and State support 
for elementary, secondary, and higher education; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:40 Mar 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1492.IH
H1492
bajohnson on PROD1PC60 with BILLS
(4) identify the major societal sectors that have 
had significant effects on major inventions and inno-
vations of the recent past, and study the role of each 
such sector, the importance of intersector inter-
actions, and the impact of patent and other relevant 
law; and 
(5) assess how invention could make a dif-
ference to the sustainable development needs of the 
poorest regions and nations, including research to 
understand and promote social enterprise, cultiva-
tion of creativity on a local level, surveys of key 
technology gaps, and surveys of available financial 
resources. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:40 Mar 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1492.IH
H1492
bajohnson on PROD1PC60 with BILLS