The California State Railroad Museum is thrilled to introduce another year of Rail Innovation in Action, a free virtual program for high school students nationwide created in partnership with Lemelson-MIT. We invite you to join our cohort of future rail innovators!
Applications are open until September 22, 2025, and the program runs on Saturdays from October 18 to December 13, 2025 (off for Thanksgiving weekend). No prior knowledge of railroading is necessary—all students need is curiosity and a passion for innovation. Priority may be given to low-income, traditionally marginalized communities. More details and information about the program can be found at www.californiarailroad.museum/RIA.
Our fall 2025 theme is Community Impact where students will be exploring real-world, human-centered issues that shape a community’s relationship with the railroad industry, in the past, present and future.
In Rail Innovation in Action students will:
Hear from experts in the field
Interact with industry professionals
Engage in activities and virtual tours
Discover exciting career paths
Work together in small teams with peers to propose a new railway innovation/invention
Present their innovation projects to family and friends
Apply today and spread the word! For questions and comments, please reach out to STEM Museum Educator, Alondra Moreno or Special Projects Manager, Carly Starr. We value your input and look forward to hearing from you!
About the Lemelson-MIT Program
For over 20 years, the Lemelson-MIT Program, within the MIT School of Engineering, has been helping educators provide invention education programs to students with incredible results through our InvenTeam Grants Initiative, curriculum development for all grades, and especially our PD workshops. Visit lemelson.mit.edu to learn more.