Jakob Sperry, 15, designed GyRings, a fidget widget to help him and others stay focused
From popsicles to trampolines, kids are responsible for inventing some of today’s most beloved things. Today marks the birthday of one of the earliest well-known kid inventors—Benjamin Franklin, inventor of the swim flippers at age 12. We’re inspired by the creativity of kids everywhere and to mark this occasion, we’re joining in today’s celebrations for annual Kid Inventors’ Day by showcasing the inventions of seven impressive kids who are trying to help make the world a better place.
Today Autodesk and New York University Tandon School of Engineering and its Center for K12 STEM Education teamed up to host kid inventors at the new Tandon MakerSpace in Brooklyn. Seven kids showcased their designs in front of NYU students and professors, Autodesk makers and more. From Jakob Sperry’s GyRings, a fidget widget to help people, particularly with ADHD, stay focused, to Alexis Lewis’ emergency mask pod, a football-shaped canister with protective gear that first responders can throw into a smoke-filled building to help those trapped inside, the audience was treated to hands-on demonstrations of each invention and an update on what’s next for these budding change-makers.
Alexis Lewis, 17, invented the Emergency Mask Pod to help first-responders assist individuals trapped in smoke-filled buildings
We have a long history in education and work to provide students, educators and schools with free access to the tools and content they need to unlock their creativity, cultivate a love for design, and prepare for successful careers. For inventors age five to 95, Tinkercad’s simple interface and approach to design using primitive shapes helps any beginner achieve success with 3D design… and it’s only getting easier. Starting today, Tinkercad is now available in 14 languages, including Spanish, German, French and Chinese. At five million users and counting, we’re eager to see what other inventions we can expect from around the world in the coming days.
”Everyday kids around the world are learning how to create and make. They have no fear about developing an idea and making it a reality in a matter of minutes,” said Sarah O’Rourke, Youth Audience Strategist, Autodesk. “Without hesitation kids are inventing solutions to the problems we all face every day.”
Visit MakingStartsHere.com/KidInventorsDay to start creating the next big thing
Not all kids have the same access to makerspaces and design resources; because of this, some of tomorrow’s Ben Franklin’s may not have the opportunity to realize their full potential. In NYC, NYU Tandon’s Center for K12 STEM Education is trying to change that both through its many programs for K-12 students and their teachers, including Tandon’s new MakerSpace—an ideation lab dedicated to allowing students, faculty and K12 participants to turn their concepts into prototypes. The school opened this space last fall and is working closely with the largest school district in the nation, NYC public schools, to teach design and help kids learn through making. To fuel these efforts, today Autodesk announced we’ll be working closely with Tandon’s Center for K12 STEM Education to promote design curriculum in classrooms through Tinkercad and engineering, including partnering on workshops for kids and educators this spring and summer.
To get your kids, students or even your friends and family involved in Kid Inventors’ Day, visit makingstartshere.com/kidinventorsday. For more on the new Autodesk design, engineering and fabrication workshops on the Tandon School of Engineering campus, sign up for the Center for K12 STEM Education mailing list.