Kim Vandiver, dean for undergraduate research and professor of mechanical and oceanic engineering at MIT;

Edward Crawley, the Ford Professor of Engineering at MIT; and

Elmer C. “Neil” Lupton, president and CEO of NEMOmetrics Corporation and vice president of the BSA’s Boston Minuteman Council.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA), in partnership with the Lemelson-MIT Program, today announced the introduction of the Inventing merit badge, designed to encourage Scouts to be inventive and solve real-world problems. The new merit badge will provide Boy Scouts with an understanding of the impact and importance of inventive thinking and doing.“Throughout the Boy Scouts of America’s rich, 100-year history, merit badges have given Scouts an opportunity to experience and learn about a variety of hobbies and professions. We are very excited about the Inventing merit badge and what the future holds as Scouts use the tools learned while working on the requirements to change the world,” said Robert J. Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. “The Boy Scouts are extremely fortunate to partner with the Lemelson-MIT Program in the development of this merit badge. Their hands-on approach to learning, combined with their InvenTeam grants initiative, will continue to inspire youth to lead creative lives through inventing.”The Inventing merit badge will be awarded for the first time Thursday, June 17, at EurekaFest , the Lemelson-MIT Program’s annual event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that celebrates the inventive spirit. As part of the formal awards ceremony, commemorative Inventing merit badges will be presented to several Distinguished Eagle Scouts, all inventors associated with MIT, including:To read the full press release, please visit http://web.mit.edu/invent