Each year, the Invent Oregon Finals  bring together the brightest student innovators from across the state — and 2025 was truly one for the history books. Hosted this summer at Portland State University , the 2025 InventOR Finals  showcased Oregon’s next generation of changemakers: 20+ finalist teams , over 200 attendees , and a community of entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors  all gathered to celebrate bold ideas that make a difference. From sustainable materials and medic

Plastic waste is one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges — but Chloe Hsy  and Luka Mosidze  from Reed College  are thinking smaller to solve it. Much smaller. Their project, MicroCycle , uses specially cultivated plastic-eating bacteria to break down unrecyclable plastics and transform them into valuable industrial chemicals. It’s a bold idea that blends biology, chemistry, and environmental science into a sustainable circular-economy model. The Reed team’s innova

For most of us, turning on a faucet or stove is routine — but for families with small children, seniors, or people with disabilities, it can be risky. That’s where Burn Buddies  from the University of Portland  comes in. Created by Shoji Mori, Lucy Wu, and Evelyn Bang , Burn Buddies is an automatic valve system that prevents scalding injuries and detects leaks before they become hazards. The team’s design is as simple as it is powerful — easy to install, reliable, and potenti

🏆 1st Place + People’s Choice Award – Invent Oregon 2025 Meet the champions of Invent Oregon 2025 — the EEGonaut  team from Oregon Health & Science University . Chloé Le Moing, Aaliya Mehnaz Ahmed, and Joe Gordon  are combining neuroscience, play, and compassion to help kids manage ADHD, anxiety, and emotional regulation through a groundbreaking VR headset powered by brainwaves. Their device offers short, interactive games that respond to the player’s brain activity in real

🏅 3rd Place – Invent Oregon 2025 Wildfires have become one of Oregon’s most pressing challenges, destroying homes and reshaping communities. But two innovators from Klamath Community College , Melanie McClure  and Niles Walter , decided to take the fight directly to the flames with their project, Fire Stoppers . Their invention, Ember Block , is a simple, tool-free device designed to protect homes from the tiny embers that often cause the most damage during wildfires. The be

🏅 Winner of the Visionary Award Access to vaccines can mean the difference between life and death — but keeping them cold in remote areas is a challenge. That’s the problem Mark Morrison  and Elijah Anderson-Justis  from Southern Oregon University  set out to solve with ColdConnect . Their compact, solar- and USB-powered vaccine cooling system uses IoT monitoring to ensure safe, last-mile vaccine delivery — even in areas without reliable power. What began as a classroom idea

Medical innovation often starts with empathy — and the team behind CompressEase  from Oregon Health & Science University  understands that deeply. Brenda LaVigne, Terrisa Gardner, Cheri Richtenburg, and Greg Richtenburg  developed a more comfortable, automated compression therapy system for patients dealing with circulation issues. Traditional compression devices can be frustrating and restrictive, but CompressEase offers a flexible, user-friendly alternative that prioritize

When you think about sustainability, golf might not be the first sport that comes to mind. But for Quincy Beyrouty  of Oregon Institute of Technology , it was the perfect place to make a difference. This collegiate golf created ReTee Golf , a line of durable, eco-friendly golf tees made from recycled grips. By reimagining a small but essential part of the game, they found a way to reduce golf course waste while improving performance on the green. This idea came from countless

That’s a wrap on an incredible Invent Oregon 2025! The energy in the air was undeniable as student inventors from every corner of Oregon brought their vision, grit, and genius to the stage. From sustainable technology to life-changing healthcare solutions, these teams wowed the judges and inspired everyone in the house. Here’s a look at this year’s standout winners and their groundbreaking inventions. 🥇 1st Place: EEGonaut (Oregon Health & Science University) A new frontier

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