Today, the Lemelson-MIT Program announced the 16 teams of students, teachers and mentors selected to participate in the 2011–2012 InvenTeam initiative. The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam initiative inspires a new generation of inventors by engaging students in creative thinking, problem solving and hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Each InvenTeam will receive up to $10,000 in grant funding to create and pursue a yearlong invention project addressing a real-world problem. This year’s projects include a natural disaster emergency relief filtration station, mechanical assist stair climber, and a portable medical support system. The diverse group of teams — including a KIPP charter school, Boy Scout troop, 4-H Club, as well as private and public high schools — will leverage their distinct experiences and skills to develop their invention prototypes over the next eight months.
InvenTeams helps prepare high school students to accept challenges and pursue their STEM-inspired career goals. In addition to developing creativity and teamwork skills, InvenTeams are encouraged to engage with professionals from industry and academia in their communities. Through such real-world learning opportunities, students gain the skills needed to be competitive, not only in education but in business. Motivated by these experiences, InvenTeam members will have the ability to contribute to the global economy through their continued desire to innovate.
“Providing students with multi-disciplinary experiences through invention has always been a critical aspect of the InvenTeam initiative,” says Leigh Estabrooks, the Lemelson-MIT Program’s invention education officer. “The impact of InvenTeams goes far beyond each team’s project and school year experience. It can be life changing for some, as peer-reviewed studies have shown leadership in high school extracurricular activities leads to higher wages for young adults.”
To read the full press release about the 2011-2012 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams, visit http://mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/n-press-12ini.html
Each InvenTeam will receive up to $10,000 in grant funding to create and pursue a yearlong invention project addressing a real-world problem. This year’s projects include a natural disaster emergency relief filtration station, mechanical assist stair climber, and a portable medical support system. The diverse group of teams — including a KIPP charter school, Boy Scout troop, 4-H Club, as well as private and public high schools — will leverage their distinct experiences and skills to develop their invention prototypes over the next eight months.
InvenTeams helps prepare high school students to accept challenges and pursue their STEM-inspired career goals. In addition to developing creativity and teamwork skills, InvenTeams are encouraged to engage with professionals from industry and academia in their communities. Through such real-world learning opportunities, students gain the skills needed to be competitive, not only in education but in business. Motivated by these experiences, InvenTeam members will have the ability to contribute to the global economy through their continued desire to innovate.
“Providing students with multi-disciplinary experiences through invention has always been a critical aspect of the InvenTeam initiative,” says Leigh Estabrooks, the Lemelson-MIT Program’s invention education officer. “The impact of InvenTeams goes far beyond each team’s project and school year experience. It can be life changing for some, as peer-reviewed studies have shown leadership in high school extracurricular activities leads to higher wages for young adults.”
To read the full press release about the 2011-2012 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams, visit http://mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/n-press-12ini.html
