Georgia Tech students chosen as InVenture Prize finalists will compete tonight in the Ferst Center for the Arts. The competition, hosted by former CNN correspondent Miles O'Brien and School of Chemistry and Biochemistry researcher Bahareh Azizi, will be televised live on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

In its second year, the InVenture Prize @ Georgia Tech is an innovation competition for undergraduate students. Students work independently or in teams to realize their ideas, which are presented to the judging panel, which includes Georgia Tech Regents' Professor David Ku, entrepreneurs Greg Foster and Lara O'Connor Hodgson, and Atlanta radio personality Scott Slade.

"The InVenture Prize competition is unique in that it enables and recognizes creative expression by our undergraduates," said Ray Vito, Vice Provost for Graduate and Undergraduate Studies. "It helps them learn about innovation from faculty and from each other.  The organizers see the competition as supporting a culture of innovation in our undergraduate students."

The two winning inventions will receive an award of $15,000 for first place and $10,000 for second place, as well as a free U.S. patent filing by Georgia Tech's Office of Technology Licensing. A People's Choice Award of $5,000, sponsored by the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, will be selected by audience voting.

"Everyone who can should attend the InVenture Prize competition," Vito said. "It's going to be an exciting evening, one where we recognize our innovative undergraduate students in a fun, high-profile event. And those who can't attend should watch the GPB live broadcast at 7 o'clock!"

Free tickets are available online. In addition to airing on Georgia Public Broadcasting, the 2010 InVenture Prize at Georgia Tech will stream onlin at www.gpb.org.