CONTACT:
Desiree Bartoe
Gatesman+Dave
dbartoe@gatesmandave.com
412-337-9720
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2015 CLASS OF INDUCTEES
The Nation’s Most Distinguished Innovators Recognized for Contributions that Changed the World
ALEXANDRIA, VA. – January 29, 2015 – The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF), in
partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), announced today
the 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees, all of whom have changed the world through human,
social and/or economic progress.
Among this year’s class of Inductees is Nobel Prize winner Shuji Nakamura, responsible for
the blue light-emitting diode (LED) which enabled the white LED, and the blue laser diode;
Jaap Haartsen, the inventor of Bluetooth® technology, now used in 2.7 billion devices and
growing; George Alcorn, who furthered deep space exploration with his X-ray
spectrometer; Kristina M. Johnson and Gary Sharp, pioneers in display technology related
to rear projection television and 3D applications; and duo Ioannis Yannas and John Burke,
who have saved the lives of many burn victims with their invention of Artificial Skin.
See complete list below.
“Our new group of Inductees have unique stories that personify the pursuit of the American
dream and their relentless drive to overcome adversity,” said Invent Now, Inc. CEO Michael
Oister. “Despite the obstacles, they have advanced our nation through innovative ideas,
groundbreaking technologies, fearless dedication and collaborative work.”
The National Inventors Hall of Fame, located in the Madison Building on the USPTO
Campus in Alexandria, VA, was established in 1973 and honors monumental individuals
who have contributed great technological and science achievements and helped stimulate
growth for our nation and beyond. The criteria for induction into the National Inventors
Hall of Fame requires candidates to hold a U.S. patent that has contributed significantly to
the nation's welfare and the advancement of science and the useful arts.
“This year’s Inductees once again remind us of how significantly the world as we know it
can be transformed when innovative minds apply themselves to vexing challenges,” said
Michelle K. Lee, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy
Director of the USPTO. “We are honored to join with the National Inventors Hall of Fame in
giving due credit to these inspiring innovators who have improved our lives while
maximizing the strengths of the U.S. patent system.”
Both new and previous Inductees will be honored in the greatest celebration of American
innovation. This three-day event series held in our nation’s capital will include the National
Inventors Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony emceed by Mo Rocca, CBS Sunday Morning
correspondent and Host of Innovation Nation.




May 11th - Illumination Ceremony on the USPTO Campus in Alexandria, VA, where
Inductees will place individual illuminated hexagons bearing their names in the
centerpiece display to symbolize lighting the path of history throughout the nation,
while simultaneously influencing the future of innovation
May 12th – A VIP Reception followed by the official National Inventors Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National
Portrait Gallery, where the new Inductee class will be honored for lighting the “fire
of genius” through their contributions to the prosperity and well-being of America
and the world
May 13th - The National Inventors Hall of Fame will illuminate America’s path to
innovation through a panel discussion comprised of some of the most influential
technology leaders in America, presented with the Lemelson Center for the Study of
Invention and Innovation at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American
History
For more information www.invent.org
As part of their continued involvement in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Inductees
will help to foster the development of America’s next generation of innovators by inspiring
the curriculum of Camp Invention, the nation’s premier summer enrichment day camp that
encourages innovation in youth and focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
(STEM). Inductees will also help select winners in the annual Collegiate Inventors
Competition, a national platform for showcasing the emerging ideas and technologies that
will benefit our society in the future.
The 2015 National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees are:
George Alcorn
George Alcorn invented the Imaging X-ray Spectrometer, which significantly improved the
ability of scientists to identify materials through their visual X-ray spectra and to gather
analytical data on remote solar systems, including distant planets and stars.
Mary-Dell Chilton
Mary-Dell Chilton’s research in agricultural biotechnology resulted in the first Transgenic
Plant, which has made it possible to develop crops with increased yields, resistance to
insects and disease and the ability to tolerate adverse environmental conditions.
Jaap C. Haartsen
Jaap Haartsen led the invention of Bluetooth®, a wireless communications technology for
the connection of devices over short distances. The market for Bluetooth® devices in 2014
was 2.7 billion devices and the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group (SIG) has more than
20,000 member firms using the technology in their products.
Kristina M. Johnson and Gary Sharp
Kristina M. Johnson and Gary Sharp are recognized as pioneers in polarization-control
technology. Their inventions enabled high-speed spectrometers, color-management for
business projectors and projection TVs, and the 3D digital-cinema. Their technology made
it possible for movie-goers to see high-quality 3D at their neighborhood cinema, including
movies such as Avatar and hundreds since.
Shuji Nakamura
Shuji Nakamura invented the blue light-emitting diode (LED), considered groundbreaking
in the field of semiconductor research. His blue LED enabled the elusive white LED, and he
also invented the blue laser diode used in Blu-ray technology.
John Burke and Ioannis Yannas
Surgeon John Burke (honored posthumously) and MIT engineering and chemistry
professor Ioannis Yannas collaborated on research Burke was conducting for burn patients.
Together, they developed the first commercially reproducible artificial human skin that
encouraged and facilitated new skin growth.
Edith Clarke
Edith Clarke (honored posthumously), a pioneering female electrical engineer, invented a
graphical calculator that greatly simplified the calculations necessary to determine the
electrical characteristics of long electrical transmission lines.
Marion Donovan
Marion Donovan (honored posthumously) invented a waterproof diaper cover, a
predecessor of the disposable diaper; she patented it and sold the rights for $1 million.
Constantly creating inventions to meet life’s everyday needs, she is credited with being one
of a small number of successful women inventors of her era.
Charles Drew
Charles Drew (honored posthumously) was an African-American physician and researcher
renowned for his groundbreaking work in blood plasma preservation.
Thomas Jennings
Thomas Jennings (honored posthumously) invented a process that he called “dry-scouring”
– what we now call dry cleaning – and received a patent for his process in 1821, becoming
the first African-American to be granted a patent.
Paul MacCready
Paul MacCready (honored posthumously) changed how people thought about aviation with
his invention of the Gossamer Condor, the first human-powered craft.
Stanford Ovshinsky
Stanford Ovshinsky (honored posthumously) was a prolific inventor who specialized in
amorphous materials that resulted in dramatic improvements in battery technology,
electronics and solar power. Ovshinsky had more than 400 United States and international
patents, including many related to the nickel-metal hydride battery and the field of
alternative energy.
About the National Inventors Hall of Fame:
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is the premier non-profit organization in America
dedicated to honoring legendary inventors whose innovations and entrepreneurial endeavors
have changed the world. Founded in 1973 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
and the National Council of Intellectual Property Law Associations, the Hall of Fame will have
516 Inductees with its 2015 Induction. The National Inventors Hall of Fame is located in the
Madison Building on the campus of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, at 600
Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA. Admission is free. Arrangements for the appearance of Mo
Rocca made through Greater Talent Network, Inc., New York, N.Y. For more information on
the National Inventors Hall of Fame, including Inductee nomination forms and a full listing of
Inductees, please visit www.invent.org.
About Invent Now:
The mission of Invent Now is to be a catalyst for change through recognizing inventors and
invention, promoting creativity and advancing the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Invent Now was founded in 1973 as the National Inventors Hall of Fame with the mission of
recognizing and honoring the great inventors of our time. Now a supporting organization of
Invent Now, Inc., the National Inventors Hall of Fame honors individuals in recognition of
their patented inventions that have created entire industries and driven this nation’s
economic progress.
###