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Grant Details
Grant size: Up to $10,000 each
Grant period: October - June (corresponds with the academic year)
Grants available: Up to 15
Who may apply: Science, math, and technology educators at high schools and non-profit educational organizations who have not received an InvenTeam grant within the past three years
InvenTeam size: Optimal size, 5-15 high school youth
Use of funds: Funds may be allocated for research, materials, and learning experiences related to project; funds may not be used to purchase capital equipment or professional services
Stipends: Any educator who facilitates an out-of-school-time project may allot up to $2,000 of an InvenTeam grant toward an educator's stipend; Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available |
*InvenTeam applications are closed for 2013-2014. Check back in October 2013 for the 2014-2015 InvenTeam application.*
Process
Applying for an InvenTeam grant is a two-step process. The initial application is
available online each fall and due in the spring (for grants awarded the following
academic year).
Youth Involvement
Educators often begin the application without youth participants. Youth input is encouraged for the initial application and required for the final application. Many educators recruit youth early to create a richer proposal for the initial application.
Invention Ideas
InvenTeam projects span many fields from assistive devices to environmental technologies and consumer goods. Applicants are encouraged to consider needs of the world's poorest people (those earning $2/day) when brainstorming invention ideas. Some InvenTeams pursue inventions that also augment STEM curriculum such as Project Lead the Way. See former InvenTeams and their invention projects.
Selection
A panel comprising inventors; educators; InvenTeam student alumni; and MIT faculty, staff, and alumni reviews the applications. Diversity is considered among school settings, demographics, and projects. Up to 35 finalists are selected from the initial applications to continue to the next step.
Excite Awards
Selected finalists receive Excite Awards: These educators attend EurekaFest, a multi-day celebration at MIT in June. Finalists meet current InvenTeams, see their inventions, and attend invention workshops, which count toward Professional Development Points (PDPs). Excite Award winners must attend EurekaFest in order to submit a final InvenTeam grant application. Travel, food, and lodging are provided.
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| Saginaw Career Complex InvenTeam (2005)
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2014 InvenTeam Application Timeline
(Grants for the 2013-2014 academic year)
- Early feedback deadline: March 1, 2013
- Initial application deadline: April 5, 2013
- Excite Award recipient notification: April 19, 2013
- EurekaFest 2013: June 19-22, 2013
- Final application deadline: September 6, 2013
- 2014 InvenTeams announced: September 27, 2013
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