White House Science Fair Showcases Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams™
February 7, 2012, Cambridge, MA - Today, President Obama will host the second White House Science Fair celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. The President will also announce key steps that the Administration and its partners are taking to help more students excel in math and science, and earn degrees in these subjects.
At the fair, the President will view exhibits of student work, ranging from breakthrough research to new inventions, followed by remarks to an audience of students, science educators and business leaders on the importance of STEM education to the country’s economic future.
The second White House Science Fair will celebrate over 100 students from over 45 states, representing over 40 different competitions and organizations that work with students and inspire them to excel in STEM. More than 30 student teams will have the opportunity to exhibit their projects this year, almost twice as many as the first White House Science Fair.
Two of the exhibiting student teams present will be Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams – the Pike Central High School InvenTeam of Petersburg, Indiana and Carlton J. Kell High School InvenTeam of Marietta, Georgia. The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam initiative inspires a new generation of inventors by engaging students in creative thinking, problem-solving and hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Each selected team receives a grant of up to $10,000 to bring their inspirational invention ideas to life.
The Pike Central High School InvenTeam invented a lightweight, portable disaster relief shelter to help alleviate the poor living conditions following natural disasters. The team’s invention was inspired by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2008.
The Carlton J. Kell High School InvenTeam invented a remotely operated watercraft that skims oil off of the surface of shallow water after offshore oil disasters inspired by Deepwater Horizon.
- “Having our InvenTeam attend the White House Science Fair will be fantastic experience knowing that our President supports our passion. This experience will give us the encouragement to continue promoting STEM education and making it interesting. We look forward to seeing what we can do as a team to make a difference in our community.” – Matthew Tompkins, Kell High School InvenTeam member
- “When the President of the United States can say that you’ve done a good job, you know that you have accomplished something. We aren’t just a group of high school students, the Kell High School InvenTeam can make a difference.” – Carlie Schulter, Executive Director, Kell High School InvenTeam”
In addition, two InvenTeams will be attending the fair – Bishop Kelly High School InvenTeam of Boise, Idaho and Eureka Springs High School InvenTeam of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Tune in to watch a live stream of the White House Science Fair at whitehouse.gov/live between 10:00 am ET and 12:30 pm ET.
About the Lemelson-MIT Program
celebrating innovation, inspiring youth
The Lemelson-MIT Program celebrates outstanding innovators and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention.
Jerome H. Lemelson, one of U.S. history’s most prolific inventors, and his wife Dorothy founded the Lemelson-MIT Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. It is funded by The Lemelson Foundation and administered by the School of Engineering. The Foundation sparks, sustains and celebrates innovation and the inventive spirit. It supports projects in the U.S. and developing countries that nurture innovators and unleash invention to advance economic, social and environmentally sustainable development. To date The Lemelson Foundation has donated or committed more than U.S. $150 million in support of its mission. http://web.mit.edu/invent.