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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 teachers at public, private, and vocational high schools
InvenTeam size: Optimal size, 5-15 students
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 teacher that facilitates an extracurricular project may allot up to $2,000 of an InvenTeam grant towards a teacher's stipend; Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available |
Applications for 2011 InvenTeams will be accepted starting in late October, 2009.
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).
Student Involvement
High school teachers often begin the application without student participants. Student input is encouraged for the initial application and required for the final application. Many teachers recruit students 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 high school teachers are invited to 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). Travel, food, and lodging are provided.
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| Saginaw Career Complex InvenTeam (2005)
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2010 InvenTeam Application Timeline
(Grants for the 2009-2010 academic year)
- Early feedback deadline: March 20, 2009
- Initial application deadline: April 24, 2009
- Excite Award recipient notification: May 8, 2009
- Final application deadline: September 11, 2009
- 2010 InvenTeams announced: October 2, 2009
All deadlines are 5:00 p.m. ET.
Apply for 2010 InvenTeams.
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