Judges
Mentor an Inventor!
The Connecticut and Massachusetts Invention Convention is the largest K-12 Invention Convention program in the U.S.
We need volunteer judges to evaluate student work in both online and in-person formats. Judges help us award outstanding projects, provide project feedback, and identify inventors who should represent the states at national events!
We have a rubric for our judges to evaluate inventor submissions, and we train our judges on how to use the rubric and our judging systems. We need judges from many diverse career paths to view projects through their own professional lens as they provide scores and feedback to young inventors.
All judges must be 18 years or older and no longer in high school.
If you are interested in volunteering as a judge for us, please contact:
Kerry Macfarland kerry@ctinventionconvention.org
Judging Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an inventor or engineer to be a judge?
No - We welcome and encourage judges from many 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 and no longer in high school.
What is the time commitment for judging?
- For Virtual Judging - (45 minute training video + 2-3 hours over a period of two and a half weeks)
During the open judging time in early April, virtual judges will review inventor videos and logbooks and score them based on a rubric. Each submission should take 10+ minutes to judge, and we hope you will consider judging at least 12 inventors. You may choose to judge more than 12 inventions if you have more time available.You may judge any time during the open judging dates, and you do not have to judge all at once.
- For In-Person Judging (approximately 8 am - 1 pm on the day of the event)
In-Person judges will check-in and receive training prior to judging a small selection of invention projects.
What if I know someone who is competing?
You may still register to judge. We do require that you not judge projects from anyone that you know or are associated with, and to disclose any conflicts of interest.
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 and invention logs. For in-person (finals) judges, you will be able to speak with inventors, view display boards and prototypes.
From a Former CIC Inventor....
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 CIC 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!
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