Kansas City Invention Convention expands program
By Leah Rainwater
The Kansas City Invention Convention is expanding its program to include students throughout Missouri and parts of Kansas.
The convention is an annual event presented by the Linda Hall Library, “One of the world’s leading independent science research libraries”, located at 5109 Cherry Street in Kansas City, Missouri, near the University of Missouri – Kansas City campus.
Registration for the annual convention allows educators access to free Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation otherwise known as “STEM-IE” curriculum and begin preparing students for the competition.
“It’s become very popular here in the Kansas City Metro Area,” said Eric Ward, the vice president of public programs at Linda Hall Library. “It’s an adventure and competition for students in grades five through 12.”
Schools throughout Northwest Missouri, Central Missouri and Eastern Kansas are now able to participate in the competition. When asked if students in other parts of Missouri could join, Ward said they were welcome as well.
One education specialist at the Linda Hall Library said curriculum for the convention is a big selling point.
“There’s curriculum that’s very flexible and adaptable to whatever your teaching situation,” said Jessica Berlinsky. “So you could use it in a traditional classroom setting to kind of supplement your lessons…We have a lot of homeschool participants. We have some students who do it through an afterschool program. So there’s a lot of flexibility.”
Both Ward and Berlinsky said students who participate could see cash prizes, as the convention offers about $35,000 to winners. Ward also said students don’t always have to be interested in STEM to participate in the annual convention.
“You can be a musician, you can be an athlete. You can like to garden, like to cook, whatever your hobby interest,” said Ward. “All you have to do is think of something that will help you a family member, a pet, even a friend.”
The 2025 Kansas City Invention Convention competition will be on Apr. 10, and educators must register on the convention website at www.kcinvent.org/educator-registration.
