Voting Opens Today for the Spirit of Innovation Awards

Public online voting opens today, March 29, for the Conrad Foundation's Spirit of Innovation Awards. The competition challenges teams of high school students to create innovative products using science, technology and entrepreneurship.

“It’s not science fiction; it’s where education meets innovation and entrepreneurship. It’s where real science gets real. Teams have created innovative products to solve 21st-century challenges. From rural water collection devices, to robotic astronaut assistants; from Satellite altitude-control systems, to Navajo Solar Frybread Ovens, these students will rock your world!” said Nancy Conrad, founder of the Conrad Foundation.

The 24 finalists and their teachers will gather April 8-10 at NASA-Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., for the 2010 Innovation Summit. The teams will present their products to an expert panel of judges, attend workshops given by science and technology leaders, and compete for more than $300,000 in grants, research opportunities and scholarships.

The Council on Competitiveness is pleased to support the Conrad Foundations' efforts to engage students in STEM education. Earlier this year, Council president & CEO Deborah Wince-Smith stressed the importance of STEM education to Congress in a hearing before the House Committee on Science and Technology.

To watch the team videos, read their blogs, get more information on their products – and to vote, visit www.conradawards.org.