MIT Open House: 75 young inventors present, invent, and explore!

Lemelson-MIT was thrilled to host seven of our eight school InvenTeams at MIT for an Open House May 28-30, 2026. Over 75 students alongThe Brooklyn Tech InvenTeam presents their project with their educators came from around the country to present their invention prototypes that they have been working on during this school year. The event opened on the first day with team presentations. Speakers included Stephanie Couch, Leigh Estabrooks, Kyle Henry (a former InvenTeam student), and Michael Cima, LMIT’s Faculty Advisor. This was followed by a scavenger hunt around the MIT campus where the students got to know each other and the MIT campus.  

The next day the students participated in the Invention Sprint where they worked through the entire invention process from problem finding –to iterating and building– to presentation in six hours. The theme was disabilities and the inventions developed ranged from backbone support to supportive gloves and utensils. 

On Monday, the MIT admissions office hosted the students where they learned about the campus and the unique cultures of undergraduate residence halls, the collaborative nature of MIT students, and the importance of calculus for college admissions at MIT and beyond. 

 See the full album here.   

The Harvest Prep team presents Four students show their finalists certificates.  

 

Meet the 2025-2026 InvenTeams®

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InvenTeam Patents

Currently, 18 InvenTeams have been awarded patents for their invention projects. This is not a requirement for the grant, but an example of how the InvenTeam experience leaves a lasting impression on the students, teachers and community.
See the teams here!

Cincinnati Country Day talks about their InvenTeam Award

InvenTeams: Integrating STEM Through Invention

InvenTeam students rely on inquiry and hands-on problem solving as they integrate lessons from science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to develop invention prototypes. Interactive, self-directed learning coupled with STEM curricula are essential for experiencing invention.

Students learn to work in teams, while collaborating with intended users of their inventions. They partner with organizations in their communities to enrich their experiences. Most of all, students learn to move forward through challenges and celebrate "Eureka!" moments.

After the InvenTeam experience, inventive cultures often continue to prosper at schools through further development of InvenTeam prototypes or the pursuit of new invention projects. To date, 18 InvenTeams have patents for their InvenTeam projects, although, patents are not a requirement. 

Lemelson-MIT's Executive Director Stephanie Couch
Dr. Couch talks about how Invention Education is a powerful way to teach young people ways inventors find and solve problems.

The power of the InvenTeam grant

“It’s no longer just crazy Mr. Schwartz in the shop trying to invent something. The grant we received provided acknowledgment to the school, district, and even county that what we were doing was worthwhile.”
Jonathan Schwartz, Colfax High School (CA) InvenTeam teacher in 2012 and 2020
Read more about the Colfax High School InvenTeam's Journey
Oprah Winfrey Recognizes the 2020-2021 Archer School for Girls InvenTeam

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Your support goes a long way: Sponsor an InvenTeam, Send a group to EurekaFest on the MIT campus, Provide professional development to educators, Support a local invention convention for K-12 learners, Introduce Invention Education to a community college.
We have so many Pathways to Invention Education for you to choose!
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