Tampa Bay Contest Seeking Young Inventors

Nov. 29, 2009 - PRLog -- TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA:  Elementary and middle school students in the Tampa Bay area are vying for a chance to be named top inventor and take home a $1,000 cash prize.  Last year’s finalist inventors created interchangeable shoe covers, a new insulin pump, edible taco tape and an automatic window washer.  The contest was the brainchild of Anna Hopen, 10 whose father, Anton Hopen, is a patent attorney.  “If a toy broke or an appliance didn’t work right, Anna would have a sketch of an improved product waiting for me when I got home from work,” Hopen noted.  “At some point we both realized what a great opportunity this would be to motivate kids towards science and technology.”  With the help of Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), the University of South Florida, and local school districts, the contest expects to see several thousand invention submission.  “Due to the sheer volume of applications, we will likely see commercially profitable inventions created,” Hopen predicted.

Students fill out an invention disclosure form that identifies a problem with current technology and discloses a solution.  They sketch and out and explain how their invention works.  Contestants are judged on creativity, persuasiveness, benefit to the public and marketability of the invention.  Thousands of submissions will be judged by the Academy of Inventors at the University of South Florida.  Members of the Academy must be a named inventor of at least one U.S. patent.  Academy founder, Dr. Paul Sanberg, is Distinguished University Professor and Associate Dean for Biotechnology Development at the University Of South Florida College Of Medicine volunteered the group to identify the top five (5) elementary school finalists and the top five (5) middle school finalists.  The finalists will present their invention and prototypes at MOSI on Thomas Edison’s birthday, February 11, 2010.  The grand prize winners for elementary schools and middle school will each receive a $1,000 cash prize.  In addition, each winner’s school receives an additional $1,000 cash prize.  All participants receive special awards including free admission to MOSI.  Finalists receive additional prizes including annual passes to MOSI and $100 gift certificates to Learning Express Toys.

SUMMARY: The deadline for submission of new inventions is January 27, 2010.  The contest is open to all elementary and middle school students in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Pasco, Hernando, Sarasota and Citrus Counties.  Finalists will be selected February 1, 2010.  Finalist presentation will take place a MOSI at 6:00 PM on February 11, 2010.  Contest rules and applications are available at www.innovationexpress.org or through the school districts.

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Innovation Express Corporation is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit entity working in cooperation with the University of South Florida to foster innovation, creativity and appreciation for science and engineering.