Newsroom

10.15.23 Press Release: Project Invent Receives Motorola Solutions Foundation Grant

Project Invent, a national nonprofit that empowers middle and high school students to invent technologies that make a difference, today announced it has received a grant for $25,000 USD from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions.

07.5.23 Press Release: Project Invent Welcomes New Board Chair & President Babak Mostaghimi

Project Invent, a national education nonprofit empowering middle and high school students to invent for social good, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Babak Mostaghimi as Board Chair & President. Dr. Mostaghimi will succeed founding Board Chair & President Aragon Burlingham.

06.22.23 Press Release: Empowering Students and Educators to Shape the Future of Education Through Invention and Innovation at FutureFest 2023

Project Invent hosted an unforgettable FutureFest 2023, which took place on June 9th at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California. FutureFest 2023 showcased the remarkable journey of student inventors and celebrated the impact they are making in the field of innovative education and social change.

06.1.23 Press Release: Project Invent Announces FutureFest 2023, Celebrating Innovative Education and Social Impact

Project Invent is proud to announce the highly anticipated return of FutureFest 2023–an annual event celebrating the future of innovative education and social impact. FutureFest will showcase student teams from across the country as they share their invention journey and pitch their innovative solutions and prototypes to real-world problems.

05.25.23 Innovation in Education: From Test-Taking to Change-Making

As the education landscape continues to evolve, one organization is leading the charge to bridge the gap between student engagement and classroom instruction. Project Invent, a transformative initiative committed to cultivating fearless problem solvers and leveling the playing field in STEM and Entrepreneurship, is revolutionizing education by providing students and educators with the tools, resources, and support they need to make a measurable impact on real-world challenges.

07.25.22 Press Release: Project Invent Hires Jax Chaudhry as Executive Director

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Jax Chaudhry as Executive Director, who will lead the effort to scale Project Invent’s inclusive invention experience to students across the U.S.

06.07.22 Fighting the Stigma of Special Education: Students as Inventors for Social Good

Under the care of Anjali Atkins, invention education became a powerful medium for compassion and empathy. In this article, Anjali reflects on the need for innovation in special education classrooms.

05.11.22 Getting Smart: Every Student as an Innovator

“On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Shawnee Caruthers is joined by a few special guests from Project Invent, design thinking and invention programs to empower every student as an innovator.”

04.14.22 NGLC: Purpose and Problem-Solving: Developing Leaders in the Classroom

Taiwo Togun, a Computer Science Teacher and Project Invent Fellow, believes that Purpose should guide every educator’s approach to teaching. In this article, he reflects on how design education elevates Purpose for students and teachers alike.

04.09.22 Budding inventors showcase their ideas for ‘impactful change’

“It was “Shark Tank” without the bite. These are high school students.

On Saturday, they pitched products they’ve been working on all school year to a panel of four judges who were more interested in nurturing the ideas than knocking them down.”

04.06.22 Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast

“Launched in 2015, this category-defining podcast in educational leadership has helped over 1 MILLION leaders LEVEL UP. Each week host DANIEL BAUER has a conversation with a leadership expert and invites you to listen in. Turn your commute, chores, or workout into professional development and then GO MAKE A RUCKUS!”

03.02.22 Cooley Presents Innovation Award to Students Participating in Project Invent

Cooley has awarded a team of student inventors participating in nonprofit Project Invent with its Innovation Award, offering complimentary patent prosecution and counseling support to the group for its winning invention. Cooley lawyer Jeremy Binstock will lead this effort.

03.03.22 NGLC: Creating Community Problem-Solvers in a School Makerspace

Emily Burk is a Makerspace Integration Specialist and Project Invent Fellow from Anna, Texas. In her feature for Next Generation Learning Challenges, Emily emphasizes the importance of maker education and community involvement for all students.

01.10.22 NGLC: From Teacher to Teammate: Real-World Projects Challenge Students and Teachers Alike

Elizabeth Luna, a Project Invent Fellow based in North Carolina, shares reflections about community-based learning in “From Teacher to Teammate: Real-World Projects Challenge Students and Teachers Alike.”

12.08.21 NGLC: Rethinking Curriculum for Equity: Community-Based Projects

Project Invent Fellows Maha Hasen and Renesha Edwards share best practices from their classroom in the Bronx in “Rethinking Curriculum for Equity: Community-Based Projects.”

05.19.21 Next Generation Learning.

In this May 2021 article, “Project Invent Empowers Young Changemakers to Solve Real Problems for Real People,” Project Invent Partnerships Manager, Jordan Mareno, shares stories from Frederick Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center. Ninth graders at Frederick Von Steuben invented solutions to challenges identified by their peers, and learned the motivating power of empathy in the process.

04.28.21. Education Reimagined.

In this article, “Giving Young Innovators the Keys to Navigate Global Learning Challenges,” Project Invent Partnerships Manager, Jordan Mareno, reflects on the ambition of Project Invent’s class of 2020-2021. In a year unlike any other, our students invented solutions to the challenges they themselves were facing in the virtual classroom.

04.21.21. STEM Everyday Podcast.

The STEM Everyday podcast, produced by Chris Woods, provides practical help for teachers to build a STEM culture. Each week, Chris interviews educators, authors, & innovators who are finding innovative ways to add STEM to their everyday classrooms, schools, and communities. In episode 199, Connie and Chris discuss the place of invention-based learning in every classroom.

10.14.20. Thinknum.

Read this latest feature on how and why Connie Liu founded Project Invent and how going to MIT, being a high school teacher, and attending public schools influenced that decision.

09.23.20. Education Reimagined.

It’s time to call upon young people to help rebuild and transform our communities. Founder, Connie Liu, writes about the necessity of engaging students in real-world problem-solving, for the sake of their learning and for the sake of the world. Learn more about how Project Invent engages youth in community-centered learning.

09.23.20. Getting Smart.

In the 21st-century classroom, we need to go beyond even the 4Cs of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Instead, we need to adopt a new set of teacher practices and student mindsets that we strive for as how we define success in the modern day classroom. Learn more about our 6 practices and mindsets and how we grow them by empowering students to invent.

09.16.20. Next Generation Learning.

In today’s era of remote learning, it is more important than ever to build equitable, student-centered classrooms. Virtual learning has led to an opportunity to redesign a white-centric education system, and we share tools on how to bring design thinking into the classroom as a way for students’ unique strengths and interests to shine.

04.23.20. NCommon Podcast.

Listen to Executive Director, Connie Liu, in conversation with podcast hosts Alison Rand and Jacqui Frey as they speak about design education as the future of education. Design gives people tools to think differently and empowers them to be the change they want to see and change the face of the meritocracy.

03.10.20. PBS Kids.

Our very own Team Perch was featured on PBS Kids: Design Squad Global for their invention of a “rolling robot helper”: a robotic cart that follows wheelchair users around the grocery store to help them with shopping. These high school inventors from Apex, NC are changing the world, one robot at a time!

12.15.19. No Such Thing Podcast.

Marc Lesser (fun fact: he’s part of our advisory board!) interviewed founder, Connie Liu, and Project Invent alumni, Justin Buys (Apex, NC) and Claire Powell (White Salmon, WA) in this fun podcast episode. Connie and program alumni share about their personal experiences with invention and how inventing has impacted their lives as well as others.

12.03.19. Forbes.

Founder, Connie Liu, was featured as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Education. Her work on starting and scaling Project Invent has led to a national movement of young innovators taking action for problems in the community.

08.22.19. Next Generation Learning.

After working with hundreds of teachers and thousands of students, founder Connie Liu shares three tips on how to design classrooms for changemaking.

07.15.19. Design for America.

Design for America highlights key alumni to celebrate their 10th year. Founder, Connie Liu, is featured for starting Project Invent, and she shares the story of how her involvement in Design for America was critical to her journey.

03.07.19. SXSWedu.

Team Stria from the Nueva School takes the top prize at the Student Startup Competition at SXSWedu in Austin, TX.

02.27.19. Technology Review.

Founder Connie Liu ‘16, is highlighted in the MIT publication as a featured alumni. The story covers her journey from mechanical engineer, to high school teacher, to founder of Project Invent.

02.07.19. Assistive Tech Today.

Our team at the Texas Academy of Math & Science is featured for their work to invent wearable innovations that transform the lives of people with autism spectrum disorder.

02.18.22 Nonprofit Project Invent Helping Students Find Solutions to Real Problems

“NBC BAY AREA — A group of STEM students are creating a new device they hope will help change the life of a guitar player and more musicians with disabilities. NBC’s Project Innovation is helping make it a reality.”

02.07.22 Monessen High class teaches business, robotics

“MONESSEN – The Business and Bots class at Monessen High School is providing students with experience in developing a business acumen, while at the same time learning the spirit of competition or generating empathy for their fellow man.

Matthew Strine teaches the class and came up with its name, since students are running a business to ensure ample funding for the robotics part of the class. Strine said he was able to secure $21,000 in grant money to purchase necessary items.”

06.02.21 Columbia High School students win first for communication invention

“A group of six Columbia High School students invented a device, through extracurricular work with local afterschool program Gorge MakerSpace, that helps a third-grade student with a speech disorder communicate in the classroom. The invention scored the group first place May 16 at Project Invent’s Demo Day, an annual convention where student groups across the country pitch original invention ideas to industry leaders and compete for funding to further invest in their creation.”

04.28.21 Stratford Academy students make prosthetic hands for people in need

“High schoolers [in Macon, GA] made a sensory glove to help a man with nerve damage detect temperature and pressure, while 5th graders made a robotic hand.”

04.27.21 Meadville students present device prototype at design competition

“Students from Meadville Area Senior High School were among a dozen teams to pitch their prototypes in a national design competition.

The team of students from teacher Jill Hyatt’s Innovations class spent a recent Saturday morning presenting their design to a five-member panel made up of Google executives and several veteran technology entrepreneurs. With a five-minute question-and-answer period following their recorded presentation, the Project Invent Demo Day competition resembled a good-natured “Shark Tank” focused on developing products that promote social good.”

03.23.21 Benny Benson Secondary School Participates in Project Invent to Help Alaskan Foster Kids

“Benny Benson Secondary School is tucked quietly behind spruce trees bordering Bicentennial Park and the Alaska Botanical Garden. But the school is beginning to make noise due to its involvement with Project Invent, a national nonprofit that empowers students nationwide to invent technologies that make a difference. This is generating major buzz for its teachers, students, and school.”

01.16.20 Meadville Area Senior High: Design Review

The high school inventors at Meadville Area Senior High School in Meadville, PA presented their inventions at a “Shark Tank” style public design review. Top executives and engineers from across the Pittsburgh area joined to judge the event.

12.05.19 Trustle on NBC News

The high school inventors who are a part of Trustle were featured on NBC News in Dallas for their invention of a wristband to help people with communication disorders interact with law enforcement. The local police, team community partner, and team itself all spoke on behalf of the project.

11.25.19 TAMS Team wins international competition

A look into the progress for one of our 2019 Project Invent Teams: Project Lyra. They created a wearable wristband to help people with communication disorders interact with law enforcement. Now, they’re winning invention competitions around the world.

03.27.19 United Airlines mechanic loses his sight, empowers students to invent

Jimmy became blind back in March 2016. He took this new circumstance and turned it into a life-changing opportunity for students. He’s worked with two Project Invent teams in the San Francisco Bay Area. “Everything happens to me for a reason and I think that reason was Project Invent,”

02.08.19 East Palo Alto Academy

High school students at East Palo Alto Academy are inventing for wheelchair vehicle accessibility. Students say: "I'm not just a consumer; I can actually produce things that can change the world."

01.21.19 South Fayette High School

South Fayette high school students invent a smart pillbox that reminds you to take your medication.

01.17.19 Texas Academy of Math & Science

High school students at TAMS, coached by senior Rik Patnaik, are inventing technologies for people with autism spectrum disorder. They’re building Lyra, a bracelet to record interactions with first responders, and Project Cape, a specialized hoodie to serve as a portable, on-demand relaxation system.

11.28.18 Gorge Makerspace

High school students in White Salmon, WA invent an accessible keyboard and mouse that would allow people with cerebral palsy to play online video games.