InvenTeams
Challenging high school students to create technological solutions to real-world problems
mechanical pencil – Scribo – to be used by elementary students to learn to write. The device
helps teach the students not to press or squeeze too hard – preventing poor writing habits
that can cause muscle injury. Credit: Lemelson-MIT Program
The Lemelson-MIT Program’s InvenTeams initiative ignites passion for science, technology, engineering, and math in high school students across the country, fostering a culture of inquiry and collaboration in a new generation of inventors. Each year, teams of students from public and private high schools in urban, suburban, and rural communities apply for up to $10,000 in grants to invent their own solutions to real-world problems.
Student teams work with their high school teachers and consult with established professionals in industry, academia, and government. In many cases, local companies provide mentors, materials and additional funding to support InvenTeam projects. Teams showcase their inventions during EurekaFest, the Lemelson-MIT Program's annual multi-day celebration of science and innovation.
Read more: Current and former Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams
Featured InvenTeam: Pike Central High School
be used after disaster situations to provide housing for displaced families.
Credit: Lemelson-MIT Program
The 2011 Pike Central High School (Petersburg, Ind.) InvenTeam invented a lightweight, portable disaster relief shelter. The team was inspired to work on this project because the poor sanitary and living conditions after the hurricane in Haiti in 2010. The shelters can be used after disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, or tornadoes to house people who have been displaced. Weighing under 200 pounds, a shelter costs less than $500. Shipped flat, up to 10 shelter units can be palletized and air-dropped into remote locations anywhere in the world. The shelter also includes a water purification system and a renewable energy power source for a LED light. Recent developments include a new wind system as an energy source as well as increasing the capacity by connecting several shelter units.
Dove Manufacturing, a local employer of citizens with physical and mental disabilities, has partnered with the Pike Central High School InvenTeam to manufacture the disaster relief shelter. Additional financial resources to commercialize the shelter may include venture capital from nearby Louisville, Kentucky. Jessica D’ Esposito continues to assist the team from Purdue where she is studying in the Mechanical and Electrical Technologies Program/School of Engineering. The team continues to work passionately to deploy the shelter because of the great need for disaster relief.