Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution
Online via Zoom
FREE Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
Program Description: Since 1995, the Lemelson Center’s annual symposium series, New Perspectives on Invention and Innovation, has brought together scholars, educators, and practitioners for cross disciplinary dialogue at the intersection of history, innovation, and social change. The 2025 symposium focuses on role identity — how individuals construct, evolve, and express who they are across different life domains — and examines the narratives, contexts, and forces that shape identity exploration in classrooms, museums, and cultural institutions.
In this online symposium, a distinguished group of historians, educators, psychologists, and museum professionals will:
- Connect theoretical models, like the Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity (DSMRI), to practical applications in educational and cultural settings.
- Highlight case studies where identity work fosters belonging, agency, and community engagement.
- Provide attendees with tools, frameworks, and strategies to apply in their own learning environments.
12:00 - 12:10pm ET - Welcome and Opening Remarks
Eric S. Hintz, Ph.D., Acting Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution
12:10 - 12:55pm ET - Session 1: Mapping the Self in Context
Moderator: Jesse Lovejoy, Founder, Lovejoy Strategies
Talk: A New Perspective on Learning and Identity Exploration in Educational & Cultural Institutions
Presented by Joanna K. Garner, Ph.D., Executive Director & Research Professor, The Center for Educational Partnerships, Old Dominion University and Avi Kaplan, Ph.D., Professor of Educational Psychology, Temple University
1:00 - 2:00pm ET - Session 2: Inspiring Inventive Identity in Museums
Moderator: Jesse Lovejoy, Founder, Lovejoy Strategies
Talk 1: Change Your Game: Fostering Inventive Identity at the National Museum of American History
Presented by Eric S. Hintz, Ph.D., Acting Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution:
Talk 2: Facilitating for Inventive Identity Exploration: Co-Creating Tools for Training Staff and Volunteers
Presented by Nyssa Buning, M.A., Head of Invention Education, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution
2:00 - 2:15pm ET - Break
2:15 - 3:15pm ET - Session 3: Insights from the Field - Practitioner Reflections
Moderator: Jesse Lovejoy, Founder, Lovejoy Strategies
Talk 1: I Am a Mariner — Fostering the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards,
Presented by Andrea M. Rocchio, M.S., Park Stewardship Manager, The Mariners’ Museum and Park and Shantelle Landry, M.S., Senior Science Educator, The Mariners’ Museum and Park
Talk 2: Role Identity in Practice: Teachers Engaging with Difficult Histories Through Oral History
Presented by Yonghee Suh, Ph.D., Professor of Social Studies Education, Old Dominion University and Brian Daugherity, Ph.D., Professor of History, Virginia Commonwealth University
3:15 - 3:30pm ET - Closing reflections & next steps
Accessibility: The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. CART captioning will be available for the online program. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu.
Recordings? Yes – after the symposium concludes, captioned recordings will be posted to the event website and the Lemelson Center YouTube channel.
Media inquiries: Laura Havel, Public Affairs Specialist, Lemelson Center, 443-617-2854, HavelL@si.edu
FREE Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/