Judges

Do I need to be an inventor or engineer to be a judge?

No! We welcome and encourage judges from all backgrounds and professions. Having a diverse range of judges ensures that projects are viewed from different perspectives and gives a better overall picture of a project's success. All judges must be 18 years of age or older.

What is the time commitment for judging?

Registration (5 minutes)

A registration link will be provided to you when judges' registration opens.

Judge training webinar (approximately 45 minutes)

A judge training webinar will be offered to provide all the information you need to assess student inventions. Webinar recordings will also be made available.

For online judging (2-3 hours over a period of two and a half weeks)

Semi-finals judges participate in online judging each spring. The judging process takes no more than a few hours and can be done at your convenience and/or spread over multiple sessions during the open judging window.

For in-person Judging (approx. 1/2 day in late spring/early summer)

Our in-person Finals event will occur in late spring or early summer in Connecticut.

What materials will I be judging and how does it work?

You will be given access to a judging rubric to help evaluate projects.  For online judging, you will have access to student videos, slides and invention logs. For in-person (finals) judges, you will be able to speak with inventors, view display boards and prototypes.

 My time with Connecticut Invention Convention was truly life-changing for me. Six years later, I have not forgotten the judges who made young inventors’ dreams a reality and a program that created something wildly successful and empowering for young minds. Invention Convention leaders have taught me effective communication and listening skills, problem solving, and collaboration that will continue beyond CIC and into my own dreams. Please consider judging for the Virtual State Finals and helping other young inventors, like me, feel empowered!

- Erin Russell

Erin is a high school student who participated in Invention Convention in grades 7 and 8. She is currently using the skills she learned at CIC to help her pursue a degree in Communications and Journalism!