All aboard! Official launch of Little Inventors Mission: Protect our oceans

Last year we concluded, with great success, the challenge that brought our Canadian Little Inventors’ ideas to  space, with close to 3,000 invention ideas received, 30 prototypes produced and two winners announced by astronaut David Saint-Jacques from the International Space Station!

On December 4, 2019, we launched a new challenge to explore the depths of the oceans! In partnership with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada proudly launched  the next edition of Little Inventors Mission: Protect our oceans. This is an amazing Canada-wide initiative that challenges children to come up with ingenious ideas that could be developed into an invention and start building a better future for our oceans—with science, invention and innovation at the heart of it all. The more we understand our oceans, the better we can learn to look after them and get them back to health.

The best inventions will be turned into prototypes by Canada’s expert makers and artisans, and showcased during special events like World Oceans Day on June 8, 2020. In addition, a selection of invention ideas will be made real and brought together in a unique Canadian exhibition to celebrate the launch of the United Nations  Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development in 2021. Two overall winners will be invited to join the celebration for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Calling Canadian teachers and magnificent makers!

Little Inventors Mission: Protect our oceans is open to all students across Canada up to 15 years of age. Canadian schools and teachers are encouraged to lead the development of ideas in their classrooms and lead their students through the challenge. Fun and interactive lesson plans and workshop materials are available online for all interested schools and parents.

The challenge is open until Sunday, December 20, 2020, but submissions by March 15, 2020, may have an extra chance to see their ideas featured on World Oceans Day, June 8, 2020!

Little Inventors turns children’s ideas into reality with the help of our magnificent makers. They are invited to get involved from the start, meet the Little Inventors and become part of their creative journeys. Makers also get profiled in our exhibitions and online galleries, gaining national and international exposure.

If you are a teacher or a maker interested in exploring the theme of oceans with Little Inventors, look on the  project’s webpage for additional information on how to participate, or send your questions to littleinventors@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.