Rice Undergrads Among Finalists in Collegiate Inventors Competition

Rice University undergraduate students were among the finalists in the 2013 Collegiate Inventors Competition. Matthew Nojoomi, Michael Pan, Kamal Shah, and Erica Skerrett with Advisor Rebecca Richards-Kortum entered an inexpensive mechanical IV Drip with an automatic volume regulator to prevent overhydration.

The competition encourages invention, entrepreneurship, and creativity in students who are working on cutting-edge inventions at their colleges and universities. Outstanding inventions in science, engineering, mathematics, technology (STEM) and other creative fields are judged by a panel of National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees and USPTO officials.

For a more detailed description of their invention and information about other entries see the current finalists' link on the contest webpage. Read more about the contest on the Department of Commerce blog.

Collegiate Inventors Competition

Children have an opportunity to stretch their horizons by participating in Camp Invention during the summer. College and graduate students have a chance to extend that participation to a higher level in the annual Collegiate Inventors Competition. The deadline for participating this year is June 16, 2009. Last year's grand prize winner was Timothy Lu of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology for inventing Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Bacterial Biofilms with Engineered Bacteriophage and Synthetic Gene Sensors.

Technology and Innovation Medal Winners

On September 29, 2008 President Bush will present six individuals and two corporations with the Medal of Technology and Innovation, "the nation's highest honor for technology and scientific achievement." To view a list of the winners and learn more about their innovations, see the August 25, 2008 press release from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Inventing Show Coming to Texas

Everyday Edisons, the PBS show that helps 14 winners with the whole invention/marketing process is auditioning inventors for the 3rd season which airs in June of 2009. The closest audition for our area will be held in Dallas on Saturday, March 15, 2008. Other auditions will be held in Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston. For a complete listing of the places, times, and details of the competition, see Casting Calls for Season 3.

The contest is open to those who already have a patent and those who do not. If a winner does not already have a patent, the show will cover the costs of obtaining one. Inventors who have a new idea for a product or service are considered for the show.

2007 Best Inventions

What do you think is the best invention of 2007? The iPhone took top honors in TIME magazine's 2007 best inventions list. TIME also listed other great inventions by the following categories: cars & buses, aircraft, space, robots, entertainment, law & order, living, environment, architecture, fashion, computers, health, tech buyer's guide, and gadget of the year.

TIME did not stop with this year, however. The best inventions page includes a list of all-time best inventors from Archimedes (circa 287-212 B.C.) to Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell, the modern-day cloners of Dolly the sheep.

Collegiate Inventors Competition

The 2007 Collegiate Inventors Competition Awards will be presented at the California Institute of Technology on November 1, 2007. Joining the U.S. undergraduate and graduate student finalists this year is a team from Canada. The competition is sponsored by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)and the Abbott Fund. Entries are judged on originality and usefulness to society. For more information about the contest, past winners, and future contests visit www.invent.org/collegiate.