Society’s Lemelson Invention Education Ambassadors make their mark in 2024–2025 season

For another year, Society for Science welcomed a new class of Lemelson Invention Education Ambassadors, supported by a grant through the Lemelson Foundation. These Ambassadors have accomplished a great deal, from co-leading invention sessions at the Middle and High School Research Teacher Conferences to curating invention and research resources for other teachers and providing opportunities for teachers to be more involved in STEM education and competitions.  

They’ve worked closely with our Lemelson Invention Education Fellow, Laurel Bingman. Their dedicated efforts aim to inspire students to engage in research and invention education.  

As their Ambassador terms conclude, we appreciate all their hard work and look forward to seeing them continue to support teachers.  

Rebecca Brewer  

Rebecca Brewer is a nationally award-winning biology educator in Michigan and a coauthor of the textbook Biology Now. She has over 40 educational grants and has authored resources for Science Friday, PBS NewsHour, the National Center for Science Education, MiniOne Systems, the Curie Society and the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Rebecca also serves as a Teacher Ambassador for the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) and the Wayfinder Society. She also serves as the Michigan Director for the National Association of Biology Teachers’ Outstanding Biology Teacher Award Program.  

As an Invention Education Ambassador, Rebecca co-led an invention session at our High School Research Teachers Conference, where she shared her insights as a biology teacher integrating invention into her classroom’s curriculum. She led an interactive activity for students in which students designed a device to remove a simulated blood clot. The resources she developed for educators are a curated collection of biology-based STEM competitions and research & invention opportunities. 

Colleen Larionoff  

Colleen Larionoff is the Innovation Coordinator at Dwight-Englewood School. She runs the middle school independent research program, robotics program and maker space. Colleen partners with students and teachers to delve into empathy-based design thinking, maker education, entrepreneurial experiences, digital citizenship, data literacy, engineering and more. She strives to center student voice and choice, leadership and constructivist learning. Colleen was thrilled to be named a 2024-25 Invention Education Ambassador. 

In her time as a Lemelson Invention Education Ambassador, Colleen co-led an invention-based session at our Middle School Research Teachers Conference. As her resource for teachers, Colleen organized and hosted Invention Exchange, a mini-conference featuring presentations from her fellow Ambassadors, quick examples of invention projects from other teachers, and an inspirational student panel. Explore the Invention Exchange recording on our YouTube channel.  

Rachna Nath 

Rachna Nath is the Founder and CEO of DRIPBL (STEAM with a Purpose, Co-Chair of the United Nations Association of the United States of America Educator Affinity Group, a Fulbright Scholar, TIME Innovative Educator, NASA Solar System Ambassador, National Geographic Educator, and a STEM enthusiast. 

During her time as an Invention Education Ambassador, Rachna co-led a session at the Society’s High School Research Teachers Conference, where she explored the intersection of invention and innovation and shared how invention experiences have benefited her students. She also co-led a session at ISEF 2025 on the intersection of invention and research. The resource she developed for teachers is a practical guide for integrating invention opportunities into the AP Research curriculum. 

As we wrap up celebrating the accomplishments of our 2024-2025 Ambassadors, we are pleased to welcome this year’s Invention Education Ambassadors (’25-’26): Milene de Farias, Amy Douglas Kendrick, Andre Pineda and Pradip Misra. We look forward to seeing all they accomplish as they support teachers in bringing invention education to life this year!