"Astounding Inventions 2006"

The popular Astounding Inventions competition, hosted by the college and local school districts since 1987, will be held on Sat., Jan. 28, 2006 at Irvine Valley College. Each year, the competition highlights ingenious gadgets made by students in grades K-8 from the Irvine and Tustin Unified School Districts.

Nearly 450 young inventors are expected to submit inventions that they conceived for the competition and crafted by hand. The students are required to demonstrate their inventions for judges who score them on criteria laid out by the IUSD. Inventions are grouped by grade level and are judged on their originality, usefulness, written description and illustration. Over 60 judges representing the scientific, education, civic and business communities will determine the winners who receive U.S. Savings Bonds, certificates and ribbons

The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hart Gymnasium, includes scientific exhibits and demonstrations such as the Mad Chemists, a Math Magic show, the Ocean Institute of Dana Point, and the Cal State Long Beach Mobile Science Museum. The awards ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

Now in its 19^th year, Astounding Inventions was conceived by the college to promote creativity and interest in mathematics and science education among area students. Previous winners have been featured