Dear Educator:

We invite you to participate in the 6th annual WNY Invention Convention, sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Intellectual Property Law Association, the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo State International Center for Studies in Creativity.

 

WHO ARE WE?

The Western New York Invention Convention is part of a larger, state-wide program originally started in Buffalo more than 20 years ago. The goal of the Invention Convention is to promote creative thinking and encourage scientific problem solving in K-8th grade students. Public, Private and Charter School students are all invited to develop solutions to problems they encounter in their daily lives, and to submit their final inventions to our organization through their school representatives.

 

HOW DO THE KIDS BENEFIT?

The rewards of such a process are multilevel: the emotional satisfaction of creatively solving a problem, the benefit of parents and students working together, and the development of problem solving skills that may encourage further interest in math and science related careers.

 

This year’s Regional event will take place at the Buffalo Museum of Science on April 26th, 2008.  Twenty five students will be selected to represent our region at the State Invention Convention. From this pool of Western New York talent, the Niagara Frontier Intellectual Property Law Association will also select a Young Inventor of the Year, to be recognized at their annual Inventor of the Year Awards Dinner.

 

If your school intends to participate, please return the School Participation form ASAP!

This allows us to plan, and to communicate updates as they evolve.

 

Enclosed are forms for you to copy and share with your student’s families. Forms include:

 

A letter of explanation for the families

The Invention Disclosure Form

The Scoring Rubric

A  Student/Family Contract

School Participation Form

 

April 11th:  Mailing deadline for Disclosure Forms, required for each invention entered.

April 25th:  Inventions delivered to Buffalo Museum of Science between 1:00 & 4:00 pm. 

April 26th: Awards Ceremony & Reception. Families are invited to view all inventions from 12:30-1:30, and the Ceremony itself will take place from 1:00 – 3:30. 

 

Fees: $10 per student

This fee helps us meet the overhead costs of this program. We will forward invitations for you to share with families as the date draws near.

 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and thank you for promoting creativity! 

 

Merry R. Constantino, Director, Western New York Region

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