Invention Merit Badge
My son is a Boy Scout. My neighbor and friend is one of the Scoutmasters. He stopped by this week with a flyer for a brand new merit badge on inventing. He thought I might get a little excited about. He was right.
I work as a Mechanical Engineer, but when kids ask me what I do, just for fun, I often say that I am an Inventor. Their reaction is a mix of amazement, curiosity and skepticism. You don’t hear people refer to themselves as Inventors. Is this an archaic term? Is this something bestowed posthumously? I think I will try it on adults for a while to see their reaction.
The requirements for the badge are pretty ambitious. Here is the short version of what you need to do.
- Interview or research someone who has invented something.
- Learn about Intellectual Property and Patents.
- Find scout related inventions.
- Learn about patent infringement.
- Suggests improvements to scouting equipment.
- Come up with your own invention, build a model and working prototype of it.
The only major beef I have with the merit badge is that is does not make any reference to open source work or alternative licensing options.
I am sure he will get started on it as soon as he returns from summer camp.
Very Interesting!
Thank You!