About us

After directing museums for nearly twenty years, Ed created the Northwest Invention Center to serve schools and museums with hands-on programs and exhibits, and to help inventors. Ed served as the first director of the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio and founded the National Toy Hall of Fame at A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village in Salem, Oregon. He also directed the South Florida Science Museum, the Museum of Science & History in Jacksonville, and the Fresno Metropolitan Museum. Ed taught museum management at the University of Washington and was elected President of the Ohio Museums Association.

In addition to directing museums Ed created and hosted a television show on inventing ("The Idea Factory," KFSN-ABC) and co-hosted a science series ("Blow the Roof Off") for the Ohio Public Broadcast Network. He has written fifteen books on subjects from backpacking to robots and kids science projects.

At California State University, Fresno, Ed worked with Professor Tim Stearns to launch Kids Invent Toys. Museums, schools and other groups now offer Kids Invent Toys throughout the country and in four other countries.

He holds a Ph.D. in oceanography from Oregon State University. He is a Fellow of the Explorers Club and serves as the Chairman of the Pacific Northwest Chapter. Ed is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the West.

Contact Ed

Northwest Invention Center
2420 178th Avenue NE
Redmond, Washington 98052