The Aging Academic Inventor

Team diversity — the inclusion of gender and racial minorities — in invention and innovation has been the focus of several studies, suggesting the powerful influence it could have ifachieved; however, age can be a forgotten facet of diversity. By relaying the story of Archie A. Silver, this editorial commentary explores the influence age has on invention and innovation. A pediatric psychiatrist with over 50 years of foundational knowledge, Silver was part of a team that patented mecamylamine for clinical use when he was 83 years old. The accumulation of knowledge over decades by the older inventor pairs successfully with the ingenuity of younger inventing team members, as illustrated in the story of Archie A. Silver.