The Lemelson-MIT Program awarded 14 teams of high school students up to $10,000 each in grant funding today as part of its 2015-2016 InvenTeam initiative to inspire young people to solve real-world problems through invention. Guided by the principle that invention can solve many of the biggest social and economic challenges of our time, this year’s students are working on inventions that address problems they’ve recognized in their local communities and those with global impact. Some of the student teams are developing inventions that address water consumption in California and multiple teams are inventing to help improve the lives of others around the world.
“InvenTeams were selected across the nation from technology schools, magnet schools, and an all-girls school,” said Leigh Estabrooks, invention education officer for the Lemelson-MIT Program. “Invention can happen anywhere, by anyone. We’re excited to see the teams’ inventions come to life throughout the year.”
The 2015-2016 InvenTeams, representing schools nationwide and comprised of students, teachers, and community mentors, will pursue year-long invention projects. The InvenTeam initiative aims to inspire a new generation of inventors by engaging students in creative thinking, problem-solving and hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“High school students are proving that they can identify problems worth solving and develop impactful inventions,” said Joshua Schuler, executive director of the Lemelson-MIT Program. “This year’s InvenTeams are addressing pressing societal needs and striving to solve problems they see in their communities and the world.”
Proposed invention projects from the 2015-2016 InvenTeams include a faucet-mounted water meter with adjustable aerator, a power lift for people with disabilities to board boats, and a thermoelectric generator for biomass stoves.
A respected panel of invention and academic leaders from MIT, the Lemelson-MIT Program, industry, and InvenTeam student alumni selected this year’s InvenTeams from a national pool of applicants. The 2015-2016 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams and their proposed inventions are:
The 2015-2016 InvenTeams will showcase their projects at EurekaFest in June 2016. EurekaFest is the Lemelson-MIT Program’s multi-day celebration of the inventive spirit at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam application for the 2016–2017 school year is now available at lemelson.mit.edu/inventeams.
Teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors are encouraged to apply now through March 7, 2016.