PHOTO / VIDEO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
February 27, 2020 -- Moscow, ID --
Student finalists in first through twelfth grade from throughout the state will compete at the
Idaho Invention Convention
on
Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, 2020
. The event is being held at the University of Idaho, Moscow. The students, totaling about 100, have advanced from regional competitions. This is the 31st year the event has taken place. Winners of the state finals advance to Invention Convention U.S. Nationals held at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation later this year.
"Idaho is full of talented and bright young learners, and this celebration of invention gives students the opportunity to share what they have created," said Beth Brubaker, coordinator of the Idaho Invention Convention. "This competition gets students involved in authentic, project-based learning while demonstrating creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking — all important 21
st
Century Skills.”
"Imagine a toilet that reminds you to 'Remember to flush' after use, a device to encourage you to get up and get your heart exercising in the morning, or even a food waste-to-dog-cookie maker," added Brubaker. "These creative kids have designed and built amazing prototypes".
The invention displays are open to the public and media at the University's Integrated Research and Innovation Center, located at 685 Line Street, on Saturday, March 7 from 9-11am.
A Patent Presentation, hosted by Jeremy Tamsen of the Office of Technology Transfer at the University, will take place from 10 to 11 AM on Saturday, March 7.
The award ceremony, hosted by comedian and engineer Gary Bright of the national television series Tomorrow Show, will take place afterward from
11:30 AM to 1 PM.
Some of this year's inventions include:
- Luludropit, by Irelynn Jolley in the adaptations category grades 5-6 division from Sandpoint, Idaho, is a phone case that has a retractable cord so if you drop your phone it won’t hit the ground.
- Trappin' Trax by Kennadi Ozburn and Ally Evans in the 7-8th grades division from Pocatello, Idaho, is a uniquely created mousetrap that sends a signal to your phone if the mousetrap has caught vermin.
- Kate Ruegner in the grades 5-6 division from Caldwell, Idaho, invented “ Mez-Sure”, a counter on measuring cups so you remember how many cups of flour/sugar etc you put in your bowl so no more mis-counts and ruined recipes.
- EasyEscape" a window that has a special rope ladder that tucks away neatly into the sill invented by Kaybree Ozburn in the 7-8th grade division from Pocatello, Idaho. It's for easy and quick removal if you needed to evacuate from a second or third story window.
Winning young inventors are invited to display their inventions for Legislators, the public, and media from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM during
Invent Idaho Day at the State Capitol on Monday, March 16
. The Governor is expected to be in attendance at Invent Idaho Day.
The Idaho Invention Convention is sponsored by the Idaho STEM Action Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Micron, Randall Danskin, Lee and Hayes Attorneys, Idaho Central Credit Union, Jeker Trust, Rathdrum Power, Figpickels Toy Emporium, and Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center, as well as the host site, the
University of Idaho.
