The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property

📣 Applications are now open for the Educators in Residence (EIR) Program!

Are you an educator looking to bring intellectual property (IP) education into your classroom? The EIR Program provides funding, resources, and a supportive community to help you get started—no prior IP experience needed.

Hear it from a recent participant: “I don’t really fit the boxes perfectly… but this has been such a wonderful experience.”

Help prepare the next generation of innovators and creators with the tools to protect their ideas.

🗓 Apply by June 1, 2026
👉 Learn more and apply: https://michelsonip.com/partners/educators-in-residence-eir-program/

Educators play a critical role in shaping how students engage with creativity, innovation, and ownership.

Join us tomorrow, March 19th, to learn about the Michelson IP Educators in Residence (EIR) Program, a year-long opportunity that equips faculty with the tools needed to bring IP education into their classrooms.

During the webinar, you'll learn about:
• Program goals and available resources
• What the EIR experience looks like in practice
• How to apply and join the upcoming cohort

Register: https://michelsonip.com/event/2026-hbcu-futures-collaborative-program/

💡 What happens when students understand the value of their ideas and how to protect them?

The Michelson IP Educators in Residence (EIR) Program helps make that possible by supporting educators as they integrate IP education directly into their courses.

On March 19th, attend our informational webinar to learn how the program supports curriculum development, collaboration, and innovation literacy.

👉 Register: https://michelsonip.com/event/2026-hbcu-futures-collaborative-program/

Are you an educator interested in bringing intellectual property education into your classroom?

On March 19th, join us for an informational webinar on the Educators in Residence (EIR) Program, a year-long opportunity to integrate IP concepts into existing courses with structured support and funding opportunities.

You’ll learn about:
• Program goals and available resources
• What the EIR experience looks like in practice
• How to apply and join the upcoming cohort

Register: https://michelsonip.com/event/2026-hbcu-futures-collaborative-program/

Michelson Philanthropies is proud to announce the appointment of Phillip J. Kim as Executive Director.

A leader within the Michelson ecosystem since 2009, Phillip brings deep institutional knowledge and a track record of turning bold ideas into measurable impact. Alongside an executive team with more than 50 years of combined service, he will guide our work across education, public policy, medical research, and animal welfare.

We look forward to this next chapter grounded in experience, driven by mission, and focused on lasting systemic change.

Pictured left to right: Phillip J. Kim (Executive Director); Miguel León (Managing Director, Michelson 20MM Foundation); Mayra Lombera (Chief Policy Officer); Jennifer Naitaki (Managing Director, Michelson Found Animals Foundation); Darice Bailey (Chief Financial & Operations Officer).

Read more: https://www.michelsonphilanthropies.org/michelson-philanthropies/executive-director-announcement/

Innovation starts with understanding ownership. 💡

The IP Literacy Project, presented by the Michelson Intellectual Property Institute, brings intellectual property education into K–12 classrooms, helping students learn how to protect their ideas and turn creativity into opportunity. Through hands-on lessons and expert-led workshops, students will gain skills that support future careers and economic mobility.

The program is currently being piloted in six California schools with plans to expand nationwide.

👉 Learn more and join us: https://michelsonip.com/ip-literacy-project/

National STEM Day may have passed, but we’re still celebrating the innovators using science, technology, engineering, and math to tackle one of our biggest sustainability challenges: food waste. 🥑

Edible coatings that keep produce fresh longer, smart packaging that tracks real-time freshness, and AI tools that predict spoilage before it happens are some examples of how STEM thinkers are transforming how we protect our food and our planet.

These breakthroughs often start in classrooms and labs, showing the power of curiosity, experimentation, and STEM education.

Let’s continue investing in the next generation of problem-solvers who turn big ideas into real-world impact. 🔬 https://michelsonip.com/news/stem-and-food-sustainability-the-science-behind-freshness-safety-and-shelf-life/

Students, educators, entrepreneurs, and artists all rely on one thing to keep their inventions safe: intellectual property.

IP Awareness Month reminds us that:
-Every invention, from zippers to smartphones, starts with protection
-Every story, song, or design deserves respect and recognition
-Every brand relies on trust built through trademarks

When we safeguard ideas, we safeguard the future.

Celebrate innovation with us this October during Month: https://michelsonip.com/news/power-of-protection-intellectual-property-fuels/

Are you a creator, educator, or innovator passionate about turning ideas into impact?

October is Intellectual Property ( ) Awareness Month! A time to spotlight the protections that help creativity thrive. 🌍✨

Join us in celebrating with stories, resources, and insights inspired by our latest blog.

You’ll learn about:
-Why IP protection is more than ownership
-How patents reward problem-solving and bring everyday tools (like the zipper!) to life
-The ways copyright empowers artists and adapts to new technologies
-How trademarks build trust and help businesses of every size grow

IP protection isn’t just legal jargon. It’s what gives creators the confidence to share, improve, and take risks with their work. It’s what turns inspiration into invention, and invention into something the world can use.

💡 This October, let’s honor the artists, inventors, and entrepreneurs whose ideas shape our lives and the system that ensures their work is respected: https://michelsonip.com/news/power-of-protection-intellectual-property-fuels/

At UNCF , leaders came together to explore how open scholarship is reshaping access to knowledge.

From building open access journals to rethinking intellectual property, our panel shared how open practices in research, publishing, and teaching can reduce costs, expand equity, and create new opportunities for students and faculty.

👏 Thank you to the incredible panelist for leading this vital conversation:

-Dr. Renée Jordan, Morehouse College
-Terrence Martin, Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
-Eunice Mercado-Lara, Open Research Community Accelerator
-Cailyn Nagle, Michelson 20MM Foundation (moderator)
-Chinwe Ohanele Agwu, Michelson Intellectual Property Institute
-Dr. Tokesha Warner, Tennessee State University

💡 Learn how HBCUs are driving innovation in open scholarship: https://michelsonip.com/opening-scholarship-hbcus-leading-the-way/

🚨 One day left to apply!

HBCUs are engines of opportunity, innovation, and equity. Yet a new report by MichelsoIP reveals that despite their tremendous potential, HBCUs face systemic barriers to research and IP development. This includes limited funding, high teaching loads, and understaffed tech transfer offices.

The HBCU Futures Collaborative is designed to change this. By joining, educators receive funding, resources, and support to integrate intellectual property into their classrooms, which builds the foundation for future innovation leaders.

✍️ Apply now, applications close tomorrow, the 16th: https://michelsonip.com/hbcu-ip-futures-collaborative/
📖 Read the full report: https://michelsonip.com/strengthening-research-ecosystems-at-hbcus/

Together, we can unlock the next chapter of HBCU innovation. 💡