Boy Scouts
Inventing Merit Badge, Requirements 1a, 1b, and 2b
Requirement 1a of the Inventing Merit Badge says to “[e]xplain to your merit badge counselor the role of the inventors
and their inventions in the economic development of the United States.” Requirement 1b is to “[l]ist three inventions
and state how they have helped human kind.” Requirement 2b is to “[r]ead about three inventors. Select the one you
find most interesting and tell your counselor what you have learned.”
There are many famous inventors from Pittsburgh who have had an impact on the world. Explore some of their
contributions today!
Remember, the merit badge requirements describe inventing as “finding technological solutions to real-world
problems.”
Requirement 1a
To help fulfil requirement 1a, explore the Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation exhibit on the 2nd floor. As you explore
the exhibit, look for ways that inventors and their inventions were connected to economic development in the United
States. What fields did these inventors work in? You can use the space below to take notes.
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Boy Scouts
Inventing Merit Badge, Requirements 1a, 1b, and 2b
Requirement 1b
Pick three of the inventions you saw in Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation and write down how you think they helped
human kind.
Invention
How it helped human kind
Requirement 2b
While you are in Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, be sure to pay special attention to the sections about Thomas
Jackson Rodman, George Westinghouse, and Jonas Salk. Does one of those inventors particularly interest you? Write
some notes about the inventor in the space below. Share your findings with your merit badge counselor.
In addition to requirements 1a, 1b, and 2b, you can see all components of a patent for a telephone switch by George
Westinghouse in the exhibit, which can be useful for requirement 3b, “[e]xplain the components of a patent….”
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