Water filtration, smart phones, LED lights showcased in student invention competition
University of Wisconsin–Madison undergraduate innovators will present 14 inventions on Feb. 9-10 in Engineering Hall on the College of Engineering campus as part of the annual Innovation Days.
The inventors will present their ideas and demonstrate prototypes in hopes of earning a share of more than $27,000 in prizes in the Schoofs Prize for Creativity and Tong Prototype Prize competitions.
Designed to foster creativity and entrepreneurship in students and give them experience with prototype building and intellectual property, the contest awards teams whose ideas and inventions are judged the most innovative and likely to succeed in the marketplace. In addition, awards are given for the best ideas notebook and best presentation.
All prototypes will be on display during the presentations and judging Thursday, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Many prototypes will be on display during the presentations on Friday, Feb. 10, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Winners will be announced Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m. in 1610 Engineering Hall.
UW-Madison students can receive a door-prize ticket for each presentation they attend. The prizes, including electronics and computing equipment, will be distributed in a drawing after the awards ceremony.
UW-Madison chemical engineering alumnus Richard J. Schoofs (BS ’53) sponsors the Schoofs Prize for Creativity; the Tong Family Foundation, including electrical and computer engineering alumnus Peter P. Tong (MS ’65), sponsors the Tong Prototype Prize and grants.
Engineering Hall is located at 1415 Engineering Drive. Visitors can park for a fee in Lot 17, the parking ramp on Engineering Drive near Camp Randall Stadium.
The timetable for student presentations follows:
Thursday, Feb. 9
8:45-9 a.m. — Opening remarks from Dean Paul Peercy and competition director Alicia Jackson
9:15-9:30 a.m. — Letzgo (Sean Kelly)
9:35-9:50 a.m. — Mobile Phone Payment System (Michael Starr)
9:55-10:10 a.m. — The DualX Fracture Fixation System (Tom Gerold and Marc Egeland)
10:15-10:30 a.m. — Prototype Judging
10:40-10:55 a.m. — TapTop Double Tablet Laptop (Michael Szewczyk)
11-11:15 a.m. — Rotoar Handle (Kevin Ripley & Brandon Kryger)
11:20-11:35 a.m. — NoVo Luggage (Scott Johanek)
11:40-11:55 p.m. — Prototype Judging
12-12:45 p.m. — Lunch
1-1:15 p.m. — Liico Brand Collapsible Mug (John McGuire)
1:20-1:35 p.m. — Liquid Cooled Replaceable LED Light Bulb (Stefan Jedlicka)
1:40-1:55 p.m. — Passive Interrupted RFID (Scott Hatfield)
2-2:15 p.m. — Clean Coal (Justin Vannieuwenhoven)
2:30-3:30 p.m. — Prototype judging
Friday, Feb. 10
9 a.m. — Remarks from competition director Alicia Jackson
9:05-9:20 a.m. — Javi (Matthew Kirk)
9:25-9:40 a.m. — Manu Print (Eric Ronning)
9:45-10 a.m. — Library Counting and Study Friend Finding System (Junzhe Wang)
10:05-10:20 a.m. — PureWater Trike Converter (John Boland and Joshua Gilberts)
10:30 a.m.-noon — Break for judges’ deliberation
1:30 p.m. — Awards ceremony/door prizes