The contest, which features 320 inventions from around East Texas, is one of the largest exhibitions of its kind in the nation and attracts attention from around the world, including coverage on national television and articles in publications as far away as Germany and India.
Admission is free.
According to contest coordinator Bill Gibbs, director of university relations, the Invention Contest has grown to become a major educational activity for hundreds of area school children. Our contest is open to children in the 2nd to 8th grades. This year we have 18 different schools and more than 500 inventors participating. Educators throughout East Texas use the Invention Contest to encourage innovation and teach about how to be an inventor. The projects certainly show the inventive spirit is alive and well in East Texas.