What is NSTI?
The National Summer Teacher Institute (NSTI) is a free, multi-day professional development training opportunity designed to support elementary, middle, and high school teachers as they increase their knowledge of concepts of making, inventing, and intellectual property (IP) creation and protection.
NSTI is designed to help teachers inspire the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. The program is open to eligible K-12 teachers nationwide. It combines experiential training tools, practices, and project-based learning models.
When and where is it?
NSTI 2025 dates and location is coming soon.
How much does it cost?
The application and program are free. If selected, flight, lodging, and meals are covered for teachers who live more than 50 miles from the venue in Alexandria, Virginia. Teachers who reside less than 50 miles from the NSTI venue will receive all the benefits of the program except travel and lodging support.
What's the application deadline?
We are no longer accepting applications for NSTI 2024.
What do participants get out of NSTI?
- Explore IP, innovation, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts: creativity, problem solving and critical thinking, and collaboration and teamwork.
- IP is modeled as both a teaching and learning platform to help inspire and motivate student achievement in STEM disciplines, computer science, and other fields of study, including innovation and entrepreneurship.
- NSTI presentation speakers and hands-on workshop instructors include experts from the USPTO, noted scientists and engineers, entrepreneurs, and representatives from other federal government agencies and non-profit organizations.
- Design and build prototypes as part of a week-long invention project.
- Learn how to engage students in authentic, real-world projects and problem-based learning across all fields of study.
- Collaborate and share best practices with educators from across the country.
- Receive free, ready-to-use, educator-tested teaching materials, lesson plans, and activities designed to enhance student learning and inspire the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs, and problem solvers.
Where can I get more information?
If you have questions regarding National Summer Teacher Institute, visit our NSTI FAQ webpage or contact NSTI_Applications@uspto.gov.
NSTI by the numbers
We're celebrating NSTI's 10 years of impact in IP and invention education (2014-2024):
- 444 educators from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Okinawa, Japan
- 22,000 hours of IP and invention education training
- 110 teacher inventions
- Teachers equipped to spread the power of invention education and IP to hundreds of thousands of learners across the country and the world