About Invent!
Invent! is a competition which simply aims to inspire young people to invent and to recognise that invention and innovation are based in creativity and applied imagination.
Both schools and individual students can sign up and take part in workshops and a day of celebrating invention in July. The workshops are designed to challenge young people to become inventors and to problem solve using creative thinking techniques. Invent! is a fantastic opportunity for young people to demonstrate their resourcefulness, creativity and originality through the exciting process of invention. See the film of last year's competition and workshop day in the media section...
Prizes
Schools and individuals can win exciting prizes through Invent!. In 2008, Newbridge High School in Coalville won a Grand Engineering Day out in London which included a visit to the Creative Materials Lab of Dr Mark Miodownik at Kings College, a whizzy spin on the London Eye (complete with an impromptu maths lesson on how to calculate the speed of the Eye), and a visit to the James Bond Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum.
Second prize was a Pro-scope - a microscope you can plug into a computer and project on to a screen.
Other prizes included Amazon vouchers for books and equipment.
Great ideas from Invent! 2008
The winning entry from Newbridge HS was an ingenius machine that popped a balloon with a single flick. Other schools entered the recycled orchestra category with gusto and a great deal of musical invention.
And Sam Houghton (our 6 year old creative spark) demonstrated his own balloon popping machine.
How can you get involved in Invent!?
Invent! 2009 was launched during National Science and Engineering Week in March, when categories for the invention challenges were also announced - but schools can register an interest in the competition by contacting the Ignition* team.
