About
Lemelson-MIT Invention Education Youth Programs introduces young people to a creative, transdisciplinary problem-solving approach known as invention education. The programs include Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams grants for high school teams, JV InvenTeams curriculum for middle school students and educators, and opportunities for young inventors ages 6–12 to enter the ideas4ears invention competition or take part in a local invention convention. The Lemelson-MIT Program focuses on expansion of opportunities for all young people to learn ways inventors find and solve problems that matter and is devoted to bringing invention education opportunities to all students.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
The Lemelson-MIT Program was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. Its mission is to recognize outstanding collegiate inventors and inspire young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention. The program is described as a national leader in advancing invention education and in efforts to prepare the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs.
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams awards annual grants of up to $7,500 each to teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors to invent technological solutions to real world problems, and the InvenTeams program provides student teams with a $7,500 grant, year-long support from Lemelson-MIT, and other resources. JV InvenTeams curriculum is available for middle school students and educators to develop skills in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on invention-based design activities. Young inventors ages 6–12 can enter the ideas4ears invention competition or get involved with an invention convention in their local area.
The program collaborates with organizations and businesses working to expand learning in engineering, science, computer science and computational thinking, making, inventing, entrepreneurship and the arts, and collaborates with K–12 educators, administrators, and colleges and universities around the country. In one example, the Calistoga InvenTeam project received contributions from families, local businesses, the Rotary Club, and other supporters, and the team was invited to California’s State Capitol to share their work with elected officials and to a national webinar by the Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property. The Calistoga InvenTeam received a provisional patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Spring 2024 for their “Smart Wearable Thermoregulatory Device,” and their project was selected in 2025 as one of five finalists for the Student Innovation category at SXSW’s Innovation Awards.
The program’s leadership team includes Michael Cima, PhD (Faculty Director); Stephanie Couch, PhD (Executive Director); Brenda Burke-Lyons (Finance and Grants Administrator); Tracy Jean-Chronberg (Communications Manager); Cristina Sáenz, PhD (Invention Education Manager); Tamara Galoyan, PhD (Invention Education Learning and Curriculum Specialist); and Edwin Marrero (Interim InvenTeam Manager).
A high school science teacher, Heather Brooks, described the impact of the invention education experience on one student by saying, “The power and knowledge he gained through IvE was remarkable. It’s literally pulling him out of the poverty cycle. He was able to integrate skills from all academic areas, including English and math, to bring the project to life.” She also observed, “You see students crossing social barriers and forming strong peer-to-peer bonds,” and said, “In a traditional school setting, they don’t always get the chance to show what they can do. I was blown away by their power and creativity.” Brooks noted the role of the broader community, saying, “We never imagined the community would step up in such a big way. Everyone was rooting for these kids.” She also said, “The entire atmosphere in my classroom has changed. Students now understand why education matters. IvE has broken down barriers by taking academics and making them tangible.”
Last updated December 24, 2025.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
The Lemelson-MIT Program was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. Its mission is to recognize outstanding collegiate inventors and inspire young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention. The program is described as a national leader in advancing invention education and in efforts to prepare the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs.
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams awards annual grants of up to $7,500 each to teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors to invent technological solutions to real world problems, and the InvenTeams program provides student teams with a $7,500 grant, year-long support from Lemelson-MIT, and other resources. JV InvenTeams curriculum is available for middle school students and educators to develop skills in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on invention-based design activities. Young inventors ages 6–12 can enter the ideas4ears invention competition or get involved with an invention convention in their local area.
The program collaborates with organizations and businesses working to expand learning in engineering, science, computer science and computational thinking, making, inventing, entrepreneurship and the arts, and collaborates with K–12 educators, administrators, and colleges and universities around the country. In one example, the Calistoga InvenTeam project received contributions from families, local businesses, the Rotary Club, and other supporters, and the team was invited to California’s State Capitol to share their work with elected officials and to a national webinar by the Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property. The Calistoga InvenTeam received a provisional patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Spring 2024 for their “Smart Wearable Thermoregulatory Device,” and their project was selected in 2025 as one of five finalists for the Student Innovation category at SXSW’s Innovation Awards.
The program’s leadership team includes Michael Cima, PhD (Faculty Director); Stephanie Couch, PhD (Executive Director); Brenda Burke-Lyons (Finance and Grants Administrator); Tracy Jean-Chronberg (Communications Manager); Cristina Sáenz, PhD (Invention Education Manager); Tamara Galoyan, PhD (Invention Education Learning and Curriculum Specialist); and Edwin Marrero (Interim InvenTeam Manager).
A high school science teacher, Heather Brooks, described the impact of the invention education experience on one student by saying, “The power and knowledge he gained through IvE was remarkable. It’s literally pulling him out of the poverty cycle. He was able to integrate skills from all academic areas, including English and math, to bring the project to life.” She also observed, “You see students crossing social barriers and forming strong peer-to-peer bonds,” and said, “In a traditional school setting, they don’t always get the chance to show what they can do. I was blown away by their power and creativity.” Brooks noted the role of the broader community, saying, “We never imagined the community would step up in such a big way. Everyone was rooting for these kids.” She also said, “The entire atmosphere in my classroom has changed. Students now understand why education matters. IvE has broken down barriers by taking academics and making them tangible.”
Last updated December 24, 2025.
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