Students at a California high school developed a cooling device designed to help firefighters and agricultural workers cope with hot working conditions.
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firefighters → develop → conditions
The students filed a patent application for their invention and went on to present it beyond the classroom, including at the California State Capitol.
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students → file → Capitol
The team from Calistoga Junior/Senior High School began the project in 2023 through InvenTeams, an initiative run by the Lemelson-MIT Program.
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team → begin → Program
Over the following year, the students studied the problem, spoke with the people their invention was intended to help, and built a prototype cooling system.
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invention → study → system
According to MIT News, the students filed a patent application and then presented the invention at EurekaFest.
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students → accord → EurekaFest
The programme's final event was held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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event → hold → Technology
How a school project led to a cooling device for firefighters and farmworkers
The Calistoga team spent 12 months working on the device, from understanding the problem to building a working prototype.
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team → lead → prototype
Their project focused on people who face heat while working in hot conditions, including firefighters and agricultural workers.
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who → focus → firefighters
The students first explored the challenges faced by workers before developing their cooling device.
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students → explore → device
This reflects the InvenTeams approach, which encourages young people to identify problems in their communities and develop practical solutions.
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which → reflect → solutions
The students moved from researching the problem to developing a cooling system and filing a patent application for their design.
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students → move → design
The project also gave them the chance to present their invention to wider audiences beyond their school.
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project → give → school
What recognition did the students receive for their cooling invention
The students presented their cooling device at EurekaFest, the annual event where InvenTeams showcase their inventions at MIT.
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InvenTeams → cool → MIT
The event allows participating students to explain their work, answer questions, and meet people interested in their ideas.
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students → allow → ideas
For the Calistoga team, the presentation marked an important stage in a project that began with a problem affecting workers in their community.
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that → mark → community
The students were also invited to the California State Capitol, where they shared their work with lawmakers.
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they → invite → lawmakers
Their invention subsequently earned the team a place among the finalists in the student SXSW Innovation Awards.
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invention → earn → Awards
These opportunities allowed the students to present their work outside their school and discuss the problem their device was designed to address.
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device → allow → problem
MIT-backed programme helps students develop practical inventions
The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams Grant Initiative supports high school students who want to develop solutions to problems they identify themselves.
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they → back → problems
Each selected team receives a $7,500 grant, along with mentorship, technical advice and other support to help turn its ideas into inventions.
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team → select → inventions
The process involves researching the problem, investigating existing patents, developing early designs and engaging with the community.
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process → involve → community
Finalist teams also provide monthly updates during the programme and regularly meet the people their inventions are intended to serve.
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inventions → provide → people
The initiative began awarding grants to high school teams in 2006.
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initiative → begin → 2006
Since then, InvenTeams students have received 19 US patents, according to MIT News.
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students → receive → News
InvenTeams gives students a chance to turn classroom learning into practical solutions
The programme helps students apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics to real-world challenges.
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students → give → challenges
They identify problems that matter to them and develop their own solutions, taking their learning beyond traditional classroom assignments.
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that → identify → assignments
Stephanie Couch, executive director of the Lemelson-MIT Program, said research had shown that the year-long programme could change how students viewed their abilities and future opportunities.
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students → say → abilities
Students also reported greater confidence and interest in STEM subjects after taking part.
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Students → report → part
Calistoga High School teacher Heather Brooks, who sponsored the 2023 team, said, “In a traditional school setting, students don’t always get the chance to show what they can do.”
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they → sponsor → what
“I was blown away by the students’ power and creativity.”
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I → blow → power
The Aporia
