Frequently Asked Questions
1. How are submissions presented to the panel of judges?
A. Submissions are assigned unique ID numbers. When reviewing initial submissions,
the identity of the inventor(s) will be concealed from the selection committee. Finalists
will be presenting their ideas to the panel of judges during the final weeks
of the challenge.
Please contact Christine Kurihara to
discuss this issue in more detail.
2. Can I submit more than one idea?
A. Each team may submit only one idea, however, any student may be on more
than one team.
3. I could use some help.
A. When you submit your form to participate, indicate that you are looking
for additional team members, and in what area you would like help (e.g. a
type of engineering). Your name and email will be posted on our "Forming
Teams" page where others may contact you. OR attend the Nov 11 information
session and find others there who want to team with you.
4. I missed the Nov 11 information session, what should I do?
A. A second information session will be held in December for those individuals
or teams who missed the November 11 session. Make sure you are registered
so you can be notified of the new date/time.
5. Why do I have to go to the information session?
A. The key to invention is understanding the NEED. We will present information
about bicycle safety so that you understand what is needed to be a safe rider.
6. Who can participate?
A. Any student at Stanford may participate in the invention challenge. If you
are affiliated with Stanford but are not a student, you may join a team with
Stanford students, but there must be at least one Stanford student on the
team.
Lessons Learned from prior Invention Challenges
CLEARLY describe your idea and how it works (as if you were teaching
someone to use it for the first time).
Team entries, for the most part, fare better than solo entries.
Combined discipline teams are better
than single discipline teams.
KNOW THE PRIOR ART - your entry will be discounted (not judged) if the
concept has already been patented!