STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)

Activities & Resources

What's the Problem with Patents? 

Grade level: High School (Biology, History, Social Studies)

Patents are an integral part of American lives whether it is recognized or not. A brief history of patents via primary sources is related to public access to research findings and how this may affect ethics in the future.

Objectives: Students will be able to:

• Analyze a variety of 20th century primary sources to scrutinize patents over time.
• Identify sources of discussion with patent laws and how they can be subject to bioethics.
• Debate in a professional manner about bioethics and how it relates to government legislation.

Investigative Question: How have federally funded scientific innovations and patents enhanced the American public’s access to new technologies?

This lesson plan was designed in class collaboration within a Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant.

More in Archives: Connect with additional primary sources on water, air, and climate change in our Environmental Studies topic guide

Problem to Policy: How the Bayh-Dole Act Revolutionized Biotechnology

Grade level: Middle and High School (Biology, Chemistry, History)

The progression from problem to congressional involvement to government legislation that allowed federally funded research to be patented within universities and private laboratories. This law is credited with the explosive growth of biotechnology, leading to new drugs and treatments of diseases.

Investigative Question: How does congressional legislation affect STEM research and the public?

For more Bayh-Dole Act materials contact Julie Clover

More in Archives: Connect with additional primary sources on water, air, and climate change in our Environmental Studies topic guide