Hundreds of young Einsteins from across Iowa are bringing the results of their best brainstorms to Iowa City today to compete in the Invent Iowa contest. Dr. Clar Baldus is the state coordinator.This year’s competition is bringing about 380 students to the University of Iowa’s Iowa Memorial Union with about 280 inventions. The kids range in grade level from third grade to seniors in high school and are competing for all sorts of prizes and scholarships.Baldus says many of this year’s entries have a patriotic theme or are a prototype for gadgets and gizmos with variations on the name “E-Z” or “Handy,” all promising to make our lives easier.One student created a hook to make it easier to carry several heavy plastic grocery bags at once. Another created the Pillow Alarm, a pillow with a timer and a vibrating device sewn inside for hearing-impaired people. There’s also the Tooth Fairy Organizer, a hinged wooden box shaped like dentures where baby teeth can be saved as they fall out.
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