Register today for part one of the 2022 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES). This event will feature a conversation with Amy M. Elliott, Ph.D., a researcher, patent holder, and American Association for the Advancement of Science IF/THEN Ambassador. Elliott also serves as the Group Leader for Robotics and Intelligent Systems at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She will share insights about her work, motivations, achievements, and challenges, and will offer advice for the next generation of women innovators.

The second portion of this event will include a panel discussion about the importance of cultivating innovation in a variety of environments; the role policymakers can play in supporting science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and invention education among diverse groups of students; the federal five-year STEM plan; and the importance of developing pathways to innovation for girls.

Agenda

(All times ET)

2-2:05 p.m. Program welcome and overview

• Cara Duckworth, Acting Chief Communications Officer, USPTO

2:05-2:35 p.m. Interview with Amy M. Elliott

• Amy M. Elliott, Ph.D., Group Leader – Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Drew Hirshfeld, Performing the Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO (moderator)

2:35-2:40 p.m. Break

2:40-3:30 p.m. Young women and STEM: The importance of creating innovators in a variety of environments

• Joann Blumenfeld, Founder and Director, Catalyst, The Science House, North Carolina State University
• Quincy Brown, Senior Policy Advisor, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
• Leigh Estabrooks, Invention Education Officer, Lemelson-MIT Program
• Joyce Ward, Director, Office of Education, USPTO (moderator)

3:30-3:35 p.m. Thank you and wrap-up

• Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Outreach Program Manager, USPTO

Please join all of the 2022 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium series events:

March 16 – Part two: Trends and opportunities

March 30 – Part three: From inspiration to commercialization

This program is presented by the USPTO’s Office of Innovation Outreach. For more information, please contact WES@USPTO.GOV.

The content and opinions shared by our guest speakers during this program are not those of the USPTO, nor are an endorsement of any persons, products, programs, or policies mentioned therein.