Lew's passion for science education is supported by an uncanny ability to make resources materialize. Formerly President of Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois, Lew was awarded AAM "Excellence in Exhibitions" for planning and realizing Burpee's dinosaur exhibit, Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur, in 2006. Lew left retirement in 2010 to assume leadership of South Florida Science Museum, during which time he has resurrected funding and expanded its reach via a planned expansion and traveling exhibit hall, aquarium, dinosaur and everglades exhibits.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)