Undergraduate inventors to compete Feb. 11 and 12

Coming soon to the University of Wisconsin–Madison: new solutions for ice fishermen, potato farmers, tailgaters, laptop junkies and airlines — all invented by undergraduates.

Designed and built by 49 UW–Madison undergraduate students, 14 inventions will debut at the annual UW–Madison Innovation Days competitions, to be held Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 11 and 12, in Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive.

Undergraduate students 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 most likely to succeed in the marketplace. In addition, awards are given for the best ideas notebook and the best presentation.

Innovation Days is free and open to the public. All prototypes will be on display during the presentations and judging from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11, and many prototypes will be on display during the presentations from 8-9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Winners will be announced at noon on Feb. 12.

UW-Madison students can receive a door-prize ticket for each presentation they attend. The prizes, including gift certificates, electronics and camping gear, will be distributed in a drawing after the awards ceremony.

UW-Madison chemical engineering alumnus Richard J. Schoofs sponsors the Schoofs Prize for Creativity; the Tong Family Foundation, including electrical and computer engineering alumnus Peter P. Tong, sponsors the Tong Prototype Prize and grants.

Visitors can park for a fee in Lot 17, the parking ramp on Engineering Drive near Camp Randall Stadium.