Youth Inventors Invent Sustainable Solutions to Global Challenges
Through The Henry Ford's Invention Convention Worldwide program, K-12 students identify a problem and work through the invention process to design a solution for it, and have the opportunity to present their inventions at local, state and regional competitions. While projects and topics vary, many inventors seek to tackle some of the most complex global challenges of our time, like climate action, cybersecurity, water scarcity and infectious disease.
At the culminating RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals competition, the top youth inventors from across the country pitch their inventions to judges and compete for awards and cash prizes.
Group photo from RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals 2025. Image courtesy of The Henry Ford’s Senior Photographer Jillian Ferraiuolo.
What makes Invention Convention unique is that students identify the problem they wish to solve, providing for autonomy and greater engagement as they're solving problems they care about. Many look at the world around them and find they have potential solutions for sustainability problems that affect their home, their community or even the world at large. Here's a look at some of the award-winning inventions related to sustainability from this year's event:
- Incredapack, invented by Gwen Livingood, is a six-pack ring made from kelp that is meant to be a biodegradable solution to plastic six-pack rings polluting our oceans. For this invention, Gwen earned 2nd place in the 5th grade as well as the Environment and Sustainability Award, presented by the Avangrid Foundation.
- GroundLock - Preventing Agricultural Soil Erosion, invented by Grant Richmond, Zander Yang, Ashon Carter and Ravinath Boulton, is an innovative way to capture precipitation to redirect and store water on agricultural lands to prevent soil erosion. For their efforts, this Michigan team earned a Patent Application Award, presented by Cooley LLP.
- Reel Green Tackle, invented by Ian Klimowicz, is a biodegradable fishing lure and bobber that combats the effects of plastic fishing equipment that causes harm to wildlife and the environment. For this invention, Ian earned 3rd place in the 6th grade.
- ClearCrete, a Concrete Water Filter for Roadways, invented by Stepan Mkrtchian, provides a long-lasting, low-maintenance and effective water purification solution with applications in both urban and rural settings. This invention earned Stepan a Patent Application Award, presented by WilmerHale.
Gwen Livingood accepts the Environment and Sustainability Award, presented by the Avangrid Foundation, for her invention Incredapack. Photo by Nick Hagen.
The team of Zander Yang, Ravinath Boulton, Ashon Carter and Grant Richmond accept their Patent Application Award, presented by Cooley, for their invention GroundLock. Photos by Nick Hagen.
In addition to these projects, other sustainability-related inventions included:
- A biodegradable tennis ball to reduce the number of tennis balls that end up in landfills;
- Several inventions designed to help clean up trash from the beach;
- A robotic dog that would use AI sensors that would use AI sensors to detect and remove trash from hard-to-reach areas like forests, shallow canals etc.;
- A sustainable solution for removing oil from water using cactus powder;
- An artificial base for coral made out of eggshells to prevent further ocean acidification and global warming;
- And a device that would enable consumers to reuse scraps of paper, which doubles as a compactor and composter.
Invention Convention instills problem-identification, problem-solving, creativity and entrepreneurship skills for life, empowering students to become the inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. We are continuously filled with hope for our future with these incredible inventors leading the way and we’re thrilled to see so many youth focused on projects that will help our environment.
All award-winners from RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals posing with RTX staff members and Aisha Bowe. All winners received a LINGO STEM kit created by Aisha and her team.
To see a full winners list from RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, click here.
To learn more about Invention Convention, please visit inventionconvention.org.
Samantha Rhoads, inHub Marketing Specialist
Facebook Comments