2023 Final Event

Marco Berkhout is the Principal Engineer at Spanner, a product development company that specializes in the design and engineering of physical products for the world’s leading brands - from startups to Fortune 500s. Marco has been driving technical solutions both in the United States and Europe for more than 30 years and has had a hand in creating hundreds of smart, intuitive products that add value for clients, end users and society. Several of these products he holds patents for across a range of sectors - Consumer Products, Medical Tech, and Industrial. Solving complex engineering challenges throughout the product development process, he turns ideas into reality and creates business success in a wide range of industries. Marco holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design and Electrical Engineering.

Lauren Cerino is a Technical Associate at the MIT AgeLab in Cambridge, MA. At the AgeLab, Lauren’s research primarily explores the future of advice and retirement planning, emerging home technologies, and social robotics. Lauren also co-coordinates OMEGA, an outreach initiative designed to foster multigenerational connections between high school students and older adults. Prior to joining the AgeLab, Lauren received her BA from Connecticut College, where she studied computer science and human development and was heavily involved in community outreach initiatives and early childhood programming.

Coming soon!

As an Invention Education Administrator of K-12 Programs, Evelyn Gómez supports schools and districts as they embed invention education into the school day. By working alongside our Partners in Invention Education and building on the strengths of each community, we aim to remedy historic inequities among those who develop inventions, protect their intellectual property, and build wealth from their creations. Evelyn’s efforts prioritize working with young women, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other disinvested communities.

Evelyn’s diverse background in engineering, education, and activism provides the perfect foundation for leading the local outreach efforts expanding invention education opportunities for young people of color. Before joining Lemelson-MIT in 2019, Evelyn worked for a broad range of education organizations, including policy work with local school committees, STEM-related nonprofit organizations, work as a math and science teacher in public schools, and work as an engineering instructor in community colleges. As a trained STEM educator, Evelyn infused her passion for inclusive STEM education to teach learners of all ages how to use math and science to invent. 

Joel joined the MIT Beaver Works team in 2018 to help increase collaboration between MIT and Lincoln Laboratory by bringing real-world projects for students to develop solutions, and bringing years of engineering experience to help out.  He has also become deeply involved with the MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute providing AI and engineering courses to middle and high school students that are taught by Lincoln Laboratory staff and MIT students.  Since joining MIT  Lincoln Laboratory in 1986, he has been involved in diverse projects from laser radars and airborne systems to large software development efforts.  

Kevin Warner is a startup founder and military Officer. His company, Paradigm Shift Innovations, designs and engineers consumer and business products. He is also an MIT Lincoln Laboratory Fellow. During his twenty years of military service he has served as an Aircraft Structural Mechanic, Cyber Networks Systems Chief, and Computer Network Operations (CNO) Capabilities Developer. In 2015, his robotics team, SDSU Mechatronics, won the International Robosub competition. San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulconer, the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and U.S. President, Barack Obama commended them for becoming the first team from San Diego to win the international competition. 

Kevin is also a staunch advocate for expanding STEM, leadership and entrepreneurial education and resources to children in underserved communities. He partners with several community outreach and non-profit organizations across the country to achieve this goal.