We are excited to announce a new chapter for The George and Betsy Sherman Center at UMBC! Starting this Fall, the Sherman Center has become the official Maryland affiliate for Invention Convention Worldwide.
The Mission: Beyond Science Fairs
The Maryland Invention Convention (MIC) is a K-12 invention education program that goes beyond traditional science fairs. It is designed to instill problem-identification, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship skills in students.
Rather than just testing a hypothesis, students follow a 7-step invention process to solve real-world problems they see in their own lives or communities. They identify a challenge, conduct research, ideate, design, and ultimately build a functional prototype.
The program builds a "can-do" culture, preparing young people for the 21st-century workforce by:
Building Confidence: Students learn to present their ideas to industry leaders and expert judges.
Real-World Impact: Participants have the chance to secure patents, with nearly 30 students receiving USPTO patents through this ecosystem since 2018.
Global Reach: Top inventors from the Maryland competition can advance to the U.S. Nationals at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.
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