Nearly 300 youths brought their best ideas to Gampel Pavilion on Saturday, to vie in the 36th annual Connecticut Invention Convention.
Gauri Kumhar, 7, receives an award for her invention regarding reusable and edible rice bowls. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
The inventors’ tables are ready to go as the day begins at Gampel Pavilion. Additional displays were located in the Rome Ballroom and the Student Union Ballroom. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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The inventors’ tables are ready to go as the day begins at Gampel Pavilion. Additional displays were located in the Rome Ballroom and the Student Union Ballroom. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Kazem Kazerounian, dean of the UConn School of Engineering, gives the young inventors advice on further education in STEM fields. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Kazem Kazerounian, dean of the UConn School of Engineering, gives the young inventors advice on further education in STEM fields. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
An audience of family members and educators packed Gampel Pavilion before the awards ceremony began. Awards were given from sponsors including Black and Decker, ESPN, and 3M. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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An audience of family members and educators packed Gampel Pavilion before the awards ceremony began. Awards were given from sponsors including Black and Decker, ESPN, and 3M. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Madison Cavill, 10, shows off her invention 'Fresh-E,' designed to give people a personalized way to combat odor. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Madison Cavill, 10, shows off her invention 'Fresh-E,' designed to give people a personalized way to combat odor. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Quentin Lefebvre, 9, displays his anger management rubix-cube-aquarium, designed to relieve stress and anger via the noise of a rubix cube in water. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Quentin Lefebvre, 9, displays his anger management rubix-cube-aquarium, designed to relieve stress and anger via the noise of a rubix cube in water. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Josalynn Barber, 8, demonstrates her 'Sea Straw,' which is designed to make sea water drinkable. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Josalynn Barber, 8, demonstrates her 'Sea Straw,' which is designed to make sea water drinkable. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Judges interact with Maldread Luhman’s personal hygiene station. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Judges interact with Maldread Luhman’s personal hygiene station. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Alexander DeLuca, 10, displays how his invention 'Ez Pour' can aid disabled and elderly people in pouring their cereal in the morning. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Alexander DeLuca, 10, displays how his invention 'Ez Pour' can aid disabled and elderly people in pouring their cereal in the morning. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Asha Hormuzdiar, 10, takes questions about her invention to monitor the growth of baby chicks via the use of AI technology. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Asha Hormuzdiar, 10, takes questions about her invention to monitor the growth of baby chicks via the use of AI technology. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Payton Farrell, 8, shows off her device 'Ouvrir,' which can help people open buckets that have their lids on too tight. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Payton Farrell, 8, shows off her device 'Ouvrir,' which can help people open buckets that have their lids on too tight. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Sawyer Montstream, 8, shows how her invention can help kids keep their sweatbands on. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Sawyer Montstream, 8, shows how her invention can help kids keep their sweatbands on. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Mackenzie Smith, 9, shows how her invention 'The Grocery Getter' can assist elderly folk with their grocery shopping. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Mackenzie Smith, 9, shows how her invention 'The Grocery Getter' can assist elderly folk with their grocery shopping. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Demetrios Giannaros offers students advice to inspire them to succeed with their inventions later in life. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Demetrios Giannaros offers students advice to inspire them to succeed with their inventions later in life. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Cato T. Laurencin MD, Ph.D., tells the young inventors about his journey to become a surgeon and achieve his doctorate in engineering. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Cato T. Laurencin MD, Ph.D., tells the young inventors about his journey to become a surgeon and achieve his doctorate in engineering. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Judges receive commemorative plaques for more than 20 years of service to the Connecticut Invention Convention. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Judges receive commemorative plaques for more than 20 years of service to the Connecticut Invention Convention. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Gauri Kumhar, 7, receives an award for her invention regarding reusable and edible rice bowls. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Gauri Kumhar, 7, receives an award for her invention regarding reusable and edible rice bowls. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Terri Clark of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering hands out awards to inventors who demonstrated remarkable ingenuity in the Academy’s fields. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
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Terri Clark of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering hands out awards to inventors who demonstrated remarkable ingenuity in the Academy’s fields. (Lucas Voghell ’20 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)
Nearly 300 youths from around the state brought their best ideas to Gampel Pavilion Saturday, to vie in the 36th annual Connecticut Invention Convention.
Elementary, middle, and high school students participated in the statewide competition, which is designed to develop, encourage, and enhance creative problem-solving skills through invention and innovation. Student prototypes were judged by peers and adult judges.
The event has been hosted by the University of Connecticut for the past two decades. The School of Engineering initiated the partnership in 1999, and continues to serve as a primary partner. Since then, other UConn ties have developed. The Neag School of Education provides interns for curriculum development, the School of Law offers assistance with patent applications, and the Institute of Materials Science financially supports the endeavor. The Dairy Bar also once test-marketed one young inventor’s patented product: Egghead ice cream.
Since its inception, an estimated 300,000 K-12 students have participated in programs organized by the Connecticut Invention Convention.
