Ann and Dave Braun Student Inventor Award

Background and purpose

Through a fund provided by Dave and Ann Braun, the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is able to provide awards for promising student inventors in the college. The primary goal is to reward inventions that have a chance to be successful in the marketplace. For the purpose of this award, an invention is a new technology, product or process developed by the student(s) that is unique, useful and solves a real-world problem.

Eligibility

The recipient(s) of the award should be currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate student(s) in good academic standing at the university, majoring in any program within the college and enrolled full time. The award is open to individual students, or small teams of undergraduate and graduate students who have inventions in key areas of one health, sustainable infrastructure, computing technologies or secure platforms. Members of a team may be enrolled in any college as long as at least one team member is enrolled in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering. The applicant(s) must have a tested and working prototype of an invention to be eligible for the competition. The prototype should work as designed beyond proof-of-concept models.

Registration

Registration will be open through April 7, 2022 with the following information required:

• Personal data - first and last name, email address, WID number
• Department
• Class standing
• Adviser(s) name(s)
• Research focus area (health, energy, infrastructure, information technology)
• Poster title
• Any co-authors' names and departments
• Abstract

Application process

Materials listed below should be submitted in PDF format to ergp@k-state.edu by April 17, 2022.

1. Title of invention and name(s) of inventor(s)
2. Invention description in non-technical terms; description is limited to three pages and should address the following items:
   • Definition of the problem or need the invention is trying to solve, and explanation of how the invention offers solutions.
   • What makes the invention novel compared with the current state of the art?
   • What makes the invention useful?
   • How does the invention improve upon prior technology or processes?
   • Description of potential commercialization or adoption.
   • If the invention is developed by a team, specify roles and responsibilities of each team member in regard to the invention.
3. Letter of recommendation from the faculty adviser, department head or research scientist who is familiar with the work; letter is limited to two pages and must include the following:
   • Description of the significance of the invention.
   • Student’s role in developing the invention.
   • State-of-the-art status in the area of the invention.
   • Description of potential implications of student’s/students’ work.

The applicant(s) should also participate in the Engineering Undergraduate Creative Inquiry Showcase on April 28, 2022, 3-5 p.m. The event highlights research and scholarly activities conducted by students from K-State engineering.

Competition requirements

Participants must upload by 11:59 p.m. on April 17 in Canvas, 2022 Ann and Dave Braun Student Inventor Award, a complete formatted abstract and digital poster explaining their work. They will receive a Canvas course invitation upon registration. Additional formatting and submission requirements follow.

Abstract

Abstracts are to be no longer than 250 words using an 11-pt., Times New Roman font. The abstract Word file is to be uploaded by 11:59 p.m. on April 17 in Canvas, 2022 Ann and Dave Braun Student Inventor Award.

Download the template

Poster

Participants/teams must use one of four PowerPoint poster templates. Poster content is to be written as to be understood by a general engineer, and be uploaded by 11:59 p.m. on April 17 in PDF format in Canvas, 2022 Ann and Dave Braun Student Inventor Award.

View poster templates

Video presentation

Participants are required to provide a three-minute video recording explaining their poster and research activity. Videos must be uploaded by April 17 in Canvas, 2022 Ann and Dave Braun Student Inventor Award.

Day of showcase

Posters and prototypes will be displayed within the engineering complex on April 28, 3-5 p.m. Each participant/team will present their invention to the awards committee and answer any questions they may have.

Selection

The associate dean for research will form an awards committee consisting of K-State faculty, staff, and/or graduate students. The committee will review the applications, including application materials and poster presentation, and provide a recommendation to the associate dean. The associate dean reserves the right not to present an award if there is no quality/deserving applicant.