Event Schedule
All events are free of charge and held in the Lorenzo Cultural Center unless otherwise noted. Pre-registration is required for all events, excluding exhibits and video showings.
Fall 2010
American Ingenuity: Embracing the Freedom to Dream
September 25 - November 21, 2010
SEPTEMBER
WWJ: 90 Years of Innovation
Sept. 25 (Sat.) 1 pm
Joe Donovan, morning drive co-anchor of WWJ Newsradio 950 and more than 30-year veteran of the station, shares its long series of innovative "firsts," from its beginning as the first commercial radio station in America and spanning its 90-year history.
The Myths of Innovation
Sept. 29 (Wed.) 11 am & 1 pm
Scott Berkun, best-selling author and frequent innovation guest expert for CNBC and MSNBC, examines the legends and myths of creativity and invention, reveals powerful and surprising truths about how ideas become successful innovations and how this can be applied to the challenges of today.
Economic Development in Southeast Michigan: Real or Imagined?
Sept. 30 (Thu.) 1 pm
Terry Cross, founder of Windward Associates and executive in residence of entrepreneurship at Wayne State University School of Business, surveys current initiatives, their consequences, the impact of money invested and the value of Michigan's biggest untapped resource-women's entrepreneurship.
OCTOBER
Enjoying the Ride: The Story of Harley-Davidson
Oct. 1 (Fri.) 11 am
InventerrificTM, which provides educational resources about American inventors that demonstrate creativity and ingenuity, tells the story of America's iconic motorcycle brand and its ongoing focus on innovation.
America: Land of Invention
Oct. 2 (Sat.) 1 pm
Frederick E. Allen, leadership editor for Forbes and vice president for selection of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, explores how America became by necessity the most inventive land on earth and what can help stimulate continued great creativity for the future.
From Chemistry to Cures
Oct. 3 (Sun.) 2 pm
Myra E. Coddens, Ph.D, director of corporate quality systems at Abbott, talks about the process for bringing new, safe and effective treatment options to patients from scientific ideas and innovations.
A Day in Edison's Laboratory
Oct. 6 (Wed.) 11 am & 1 pm
Sarah Miller Caldicott, author and great-grandniece of Thomas Edison, shares Edison's timeless methods of innovation, how he created an innovation culture in his laboratory and more than 150 companies, and how you can think like an innovator starting now.
Sanders Confectionery
Oct. 7 (Thu.) 11 am
Greg Tasker, a widely published freelance writer, traces the more than 130-year history of Detroit's famous confectioner, Sanders, which at its peak had more than 50 stores and products distributed through 200 supermarkets, to its near extinction in the 1980s and its resurgence through another Detroit institution, Morley Brands.
From Birth to Entrepreneur
Oct. 8 (Fri.) 11 am
Colin McConnell, founder of Biz Match Connect, shares his perspectives, starting with his influences growing up in an entrepreneurial family through his experiences in brand building, business networking and social media.
Super Science Day: The Physics of Sound
Oct. 10 (Sun.) 1:30-3:30 pm
Families can drop in to participate in any or all of the 10 interactive activities set up by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum to explore pitch, volume, the energy within a sound wave, and how sound travels.
On Innovation: Advancing the Culture of Innovation
Oct. 13 (Wed.) 11 am
Stephanie Freeth, director of strategic planning and business development at The Henry Ford, showcases its new educational initiative, anchored by a special website that shares inspiring stories of leading, contemporary innovators.
SPEAKER SERIES
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life
Oct. 14 (Thu.) 7 pm
Presentation: $15; $5 Seniors/Students/Military
Presentation and Meet & Greet: $30 (5:30-6:30 pm)
Legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp, drawing on experiences from her own life as well as diverse examples ranging from Beethoven to Maurice Sendak, explores the nature of creativity itself, focusing on themes of process versus product.
Autonomous Robotics: Hands-On Workshop for Thanksgiving RoboParade Rookies
Oct. 16 (Sat.) 1 pm
An NXT robotics workshop for rookie teams interested in participating in Lawrence Technological University's 5th Annual Thanksgiving RoboParade on Nov. 20 at the Lorenzo Cultural Center. Interested school administrators, teachers or parents of students in 4th-12th grades should contact Dr. CJ Chung, robofest@LTU.edu, to reserve seats. For details about the RoboParade, visit www.robofest.net and click on the RoboParade link.
America's 19th-Century Marvel: The Transcontinental Railroad
Oct. 17 (Sun.) 2 pm
Historical re-enactor Michael Deren shares the stories and songs of the people who built the Transcontinental, which bound the nation together with speedy and efficient transportation of people and goods.
Do You Remember Howdy Doody?
Oct. 20 (Wed.) 11 am
InventerrificTM, which provides educational resources about American inventors that demonstrate creativity and ingenuity, tells the tales and inventors' visions behind toys such as Monopoly, Slinky, Lincoln Logs, Raggedy Ann and Barbie.
Inventing Michigan: Inventors Known and Unknown
Oct. 20 (Wed.) 1 pm
InventerrificTM highlights Michigan inventors and companies from the Civil War to today, focusing on the stories behind the inventions, including the cultural and historical context that drove the innovations.
Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion House: Invention and Innovation
Oct. 21 (Thu.) 11 am
Clara Deck, conservationist, and Marc Greuther, chief curator of industry, both from The Henry Ford, examine the Dymaxion House as a distillation of Buckminster Fuller's philosophy as an innovator.
Butch Hartman
Oct. 21 (Thu.) 7 pm
Anchor Bay High School grad Butch Hartman, creator, director and executive producer of the animated Nickelodeon series "The Fairly OddParents" and "Danny Phantom," shares his perspective on creativity and innovation.
Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla: Inventors in Conflict
Oct. 23 (Sat.) 1 pm
John Bowditch, director of exhibits at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and expert on late-19th-century technology, contrasts the very different inventions and lives of Edison and Tesla, both significant contributors to modern electrical society, and demonstrates several of their inventions.
Detroit's Drink: The Vernors Ginger Ale Story
Oct. 24 (Sun.) 2 pm
Author Keith Wunderlich, a collector of Vernors Ginger Ale history, advertising and ephemera for more than 30 years, traces the history of America's oldest continuously produced soft drink, from its creation in a small Detroit pharmacy to factory production, from entrepreneur to franchised corporation.
Michigan in an Era of Climate Change
Oct. 27 (Wed.) 11 am
Glen LeRoy, FAIA, FAICP, dean of the College of Architecture and Design at Lawrence Technological University, examines the effects that climate change is having on Michigan, highlighting the impact on business and innovation.
Brainstormers! "Takeoff Show"
Oct. 28 (Thu.) 11 am
Interactive opportunity for elementary and middle school students to participate in the creative writing process, featuring audience story ideas, wacky costumes, music, sound effects and opportunities for audience volunteer actors. Also offered Nov. 11 (Thu.) at 11 am
The Ford Rouge Plant: Innovation Then and Now
Oct. 29 (Fri.) 11 am & 1 pm
Cynthia Jones, manager of the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, overviews Henry Ford's innovative approaches to manufacturing, characterized by the plant, and also focuses on the plant tour's sustainable site design, Gold LEED award-winning architecture and educational programs as an inspiration for visitors to innovate in their own communities.
The College for Creative Studies and the Creative Economy: Spurring Economic and Community Development in Detroit
Oct. 30 (Sat.) 1 pm
College for Creative Studies president Richard L. Rogers discusses the college's efforts to revitalize Detroit through academic and community programs, redevelopment of the historic Argonaut Building and leadership of the Creative Corridor Initiative.
November
The Erie Canal: DeWitt Clinton's Vision and Michigan's Future
Nov. 3 (Wed.) 11 am & 1 pm
Historical re-enactor Michael Deren hosts a musical journey from Albany, New York, to the Michigan wilderness via the newly built Erie Canal, which led to Michigan's prosperity and statehood.
Accelerating Southeast Michigan's Economy: Embracing Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Nov. 4 (Thu.) 11:30 am-1:30 pm
Luncheon and Panel Discussion: $50
Proceeds to the Macomb Presidential Scholarship
Rich Sheridan, co-founder and president of Menlo Innovations, an innovative software design and development company in Ann Arbor; Sam Singh, senior consultant to the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, a unique philanthropic initiative aimed at helping to restore the region to a position of leadership in the new global economy; and Robbie Hardy, consultant with the Kauffman Foundation, the largest American foundation to focus on entrepreneurship, share their perspectives on accelerating the region's transition to an innovative and entrepreneurial economy.
Smashing Stereotypes: Scientists and Engineers as Innovators
Nov. 5 (Fri.) 11 am & 1 pm
Deanne Bell, featured on Discovery Channel's "Smash Lab," shares her journey to becoming an engineer and a woman in science, showcases engineers and scientists in very unique and exciting professions, and gives the audience opportunities to come up with their own wacky solutions to some of the engineering challenges faced on "Smash Lab."
Fresh to Success
Nov. 6 (Sat.) 1 pm
Jack Aronson, founder and president of Garden Fresh Gourmet in Ferndale, the nation's best-selling fresh salsa, shares the story of his company's growth, from experimenting with recipes in the backroom of his barbecue restaurant to a product line sold in 40 states and Canada.
Backyard Brains: Neuroscience for Everyone
Nov. 7 (Sun.) 2 pm
Timothy C. Marzullo, Ph.D., tells the story of developing the SpikerBox, an inexpensive bioamplifier for recording the electrical activity of insect neurons to allow anyone interested to study the nervous system, and engages the audience in on-site experiments.
Stanford Ovshinsky: Sparking a Revolution
Nov. 10 (Wed.) 11 am
Stanford Ovshinsky, founder of a new field of physics based on the superconductivity of certain alloys that gave new life to the engineering of semiconductors, solar energy and electric cars, surveys his experiences.
Brainstormers! "Takeoff Show"
Nov. 11 (Thu.) 11 am
Interactive opportunity for elementary and middle school students to participate in the creative writing process, featuring audience story ideas, wacky costumes, music, sound effects and opportunities for audience volunteer actors. Also offered Oct. 28 (Thu.) at 11 am
SPEAKER SERIES
Chat with Steve Wozniak
Nov. 12 (Fri.) 7 pm
Presentation: $15; $5 Seniors/Students/Military
Presentation and Meet & Greet: $30 (5:30-6:30 pm)
Steve Wozniak shares his experiences as co-founder of Apple, which revolutionized the early personal computer industry, and discusses the importance of creativity and innovation in education in nurturing entrepreneurship.
Breaking the Sound Barrier: The Sphinx Organization and Classical Music
Nov. 17 (Wed.) 1 pm
Aaron P. Dworkin, founder and president of the Sphinx Organization, shares his personal history related to music and diversity, and the work of Sphinx-the leading U.S. arts organization that focuses on youth development and diversity in classical music.
Parts of a Parachute
Nov. 18 (Thu.) 11 am
The Detroit Science Center guides middle school-age students in employing both ingenuity and the scientific method to create parachutes that will protect eggs dropped from a ladder.
5th Annual Thanksgiving RoboParade
Nov. 20 (Sat.) 12:30 pm
Organized by Lawrence Technological University, the annual indoor parade features fully autonomous robot floats, which follow a parade route and detect robots in front of them, constructed and programmed by student teams in 4th-12th grades.
Speakers and programs are subject to change. Events are free of charge and held in the Lorenzo Cultural Center (44575 Garfield, Clinton Twp.) unless otherwise noted.
Pre-registration is required for all events, excluding exhibits and video showings.
