Advice for Future Inventors
Hi InvenTeams!
My name is Dave Willis and I’m a Lecturer/Research Scientist at MIT in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. I’ve spent the last eight years at MIT as a graduate student (2000-2006) and as an employee (2006-present). In my work, I develop and use computational tools for aerodynamics design and analysis. Our current project involves studying bats (the mammals that fly) to learn how they fly so that we can apply that knowledge to building Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs). If you want to see some of the work we do, please visit our website.
It must be so exciting to be heading into the final stages of your InvenTeams’ projects and starting travel plans to come to MIT. As a guest contributor to this blog, I started to think about what it was I could offer as advice or thoughts to you as you wrap up your InvenTeams’ projects and head off to new adventures. You’ve all likely learned a ton of stuff about your particular invention and the invention and development process, and I look forward to hearing all about your experiences when you come and visit us at MIT for the Odyssey. My goal here is to reflect on my work, interactions and education in engineering and also take into account some of what I’ve seen at past InvenTeams’ events and see what I can offer to you as a few additional thoughts.
I. Ask Questions
The first thought that comes to mind is the importance of developing and asking questions. It took me a long time to realize that asking and developing meaningful questions is sometimes just as important as the answers. It takes a lot of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to ask breakthrough questions. What I’m really talking about is constructive questions that challenge things we easily accept in our daily lives. As an example, a question that just popped into my mind: Why have airplanes looked almost the same for the past 80 – 100 years? Is the airplane a perfect invention? Did the designers of aircraft in the early 1900’s have the same technology we have today to predict aircraft performance? What would we change if we could invent the airplane again? How much is a design driven by the initial invention/idea? Etc. etc. Not only might this line of question help me discover a new concept for an aircraft, but also by answering the questions I’ll learn more about the science of how airplanes fly. Most inventions and breakthrough ideas in science start with some form of a question, including some of yours. As your projects develop you are able to refine your thoughts and ideas with more pointed and specific questions. My point is, just because your projects are headed toward their final stages in the InvenTeams grant cycle, don’t stop asking questions! Good answers may be hard to find sometimes, but that shouldn’t stop you from asking the next great question.
II. Embrace Creative Thinking
The second thought that comes to mind is a sense of wonder. As I grow older, I realize that the development process we all undergo as we transition from childhood to adulthood somehow stifles a lot of peoples’ sense of wonder. I know that each of you likely has a significant sense of wonderment; otherwise, you wouldn’t have come up with the creative InvenTeams ideas for your inventions. If you see a child at an aquarium, the amazing sense of wonder is right there on their faces, and before long, he/she have conjured up images of he/she riding dolphins to strange new lands. I don’t recommend that you to revert to the fantasies of childhood, but what I would suggest is to allow yourself to get (really) excited about things, and if it’s invention and innovation that makes you excited, then don’t stop being excited about it and don’t let others stop you from being excited. The process of invention is full of wonder and creative ideas. Hold on to that sense of wonder and creativity as you traverse through life. It will be useful in all walks of life.
III. Pursue Your Ideas and Your Opportunities
The final thought I will leave you with is something that seems obvious, but is likely the most challenging aspect of the process, and that is, persistently embrace the opportunities you have to develop your ideas and your creativity. There are many wonderful ideas and many creative questions that people have answered, but unless you pursue the opportunity develop those ideas and thoughts they will continue to exist in a small virtual space in your minds. Sometimes the challenge of pursuing those ideas is a daunting one, and it will take hard work and possibly many failures, but in the end, there are few things as gratifying as seeing an idea you had develop into a solution that touches peoples’ lives.
I believe that hard work and education are extremely important, but developing good questions, thinking creatively and pursuing your ideas will naturally lead you to want more knowledge and education. I work hard and I think hard every day, because I am driven by the interesting world around me, thinking creatively about that world, and the many questions that stick in my mind.
Good luck and I look forward to meeting you all and talking to each of you about your various inventions at the 2008 Odyssey!
Cheers,
David Willis