Improving Life Through Sustainable Invention

Today's world needs inventors focused on sustainable change. The $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability celebrates individuals whose inventions and innovations enhance economic opportunity and community well-being in developing and/or developed countries, while protecting and restoring the natural environment.

The $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability is bestowed on inventors whose products or processes are viable and sustainable, and have high potential to improve the quality of life for future generations. The award serves to increase awareness of local or global sustainability issues and inventors working in these critical areas, and also supports continued inventive work of these individuals.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible candidates of the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability are the following:

• U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or foreign nationals currently working legally in the United States
• Inventors who have created a product, process or material; made a technology more affordable; redesigned a system; or otherwise demonstrated remarkable technological inventiveness in addressing local or global sustainability in the United States and/or abroad
• Inventors who can provide evidence that their inventions have been adopted for practical use
• Inventors working in an area that ultimately improves the quality of air, water or soil; or pertains to health, energy, agriculture, shelter, biodiversity or ecosystem management
• Individuals who are inspirational to young people, through their creativity, outreach or mentoring activities

Candidates may be individuals or two collaborating inventors, and they must be nominated by one of their peers. U.S. patents are not required, but are desirable for this award. Winners will be invited and encouraged to participate in Lemelson-MIT Program activities, including youth outreach opportunities to inspire young people to pursue creative lives and careers.

Nomination Guidelines
First, complete the online nomination cover letter. Second, after the cover letter has been completed and submitted online, please prepare the following materials for the candidate's nomination packet:

• Inventor Profile Summary
  Why should the candidate be recognized and rewarded? Summarize the candidate's major inventive accomplishments and why he/she is being nominated for the award. Limit the summary to 75 words.
• Description of Inventiveness
  How could the award potentially enhance the candidate's inventive work? Describe how the candidate's accomplishments in invention and the impact and benefit to society. Limit the description to 750 words.
• Biography
  What distinguishes the candidate? Highlight experience, education, awards, recognitions, publications, copyrights, trademarks, and invited lectures and conferences in a one-page summary (8.5" x 11").
• Youth Outreach Experience and Interest
  Has the candidate participated or shown an interest in youth outreach? Explain why the candidate might be an exemplary role model for young people. Limit the description to 250 words.
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
  Limit to five single-sided pages (8.5" x 11"); summarize where necessary.
• Evidence of Adoption
  Has this invention been adopted for practical use? Is it commercially available, and to what extent, or is it being disseminated for use in some way? How can its impact be measured?
• Patent Documentation
  A maximum of five patent abstracts may be submitted, if applicable. If the candidate has additional patents, a list of patent numbers and titles only may be submitted for them (no abstracts).
• Recommendations
  Three letters of recommendation are required. Recommenders should describe their affiliation with the candidate and include their name, title, employer, department, address, email address, telephone and fax number. Limit each to two single-sided pages (8.5" x 11").
• Optional Materials
  Other pertinent materials to support the candidate's achievements may be provided, such as professional articles and press clippings. Limit to 10 single-sided pages (8.5" x 11").

Send the original nomination packet (unbound, single-sided) to the Lemelson-MIT Program office via special delivery only:

Special Delivery (i.e. FedEx, DHL, UPS):
The Lemelson-MIT Program
Attn: Lemelson-MIT Awards
MIT School of Engineering
30 Memorial Dr., E60-215
Cambridge, MA 02142
617-253-3352

Please note: We will not be accepting nomination packets through standard mail.

Information about the candidate presented in the nomination packet may be used to prepare public educational materials, if the candidate is selected as the award recipient. Please contact the Lemelson-MIT Program Officer, lemelson_awards@mit.edu, if you have any questions.

The $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability is part of a multi-faceted program administered by the Lemelson-MIT Program and established by the Lemelson Foundation to recognize outstanding inventors, encourage sustainable new solutions to real-world problems, and enable and inspire young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention.