Building a better mouse trap has stumped inventors for ages. People called Johannes Gutenberg a lunatic for his moveable type idea. And remember, it took Thomas Edison more than 1000 tries to finally perfect the light bulb. But on Saturday, May 31, budding little Edisons and Gutenbergs will show off their bright new ideas at the Rochester Museum & Science Center's Invention Convention.

The event will display the inventions of students ages 5 to 14, who were chosen from public and private schools from across the state. Students were asked to invent a new product, or improve an old one using analysis, design, and problem-solving skills in just a few short months - a task that must have taken plenty of inspiration and some serious perspiration.

Entries typically include solutions to everyday problems that seemingly only kids could create, like a multiple condiment dispenser, a bookmark with a reading light, and an outdoor dog shower. Black & Decker even bought the patent to the Snakelight, which was originally designed for the Invention Convention in 1994.

Local celebrities, patent lawyers, and engineers will judge the entries, and select 25 local finalists to attend the statewide recognition ceremony in Buffalo on June 14. Finalists from Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Syracuse will also join the pack of inventors in Buffalo. Who knows, this year's convention might produce this generation's Einstein.

This year marks the ninth time Rochester has participated in the convention. The event, sponsored by the Rochester Intellectual Property Law Association and the RMSC, will be held 2-5 p.m. in the Strasenburgh Planetarium, 657 East Avenue, and is free and open to the public. The RMSC is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, visit rmsc.org.

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITS

Genesee Country Village and Museum Nature Center: Sunday Walks, 2 p.m. 1410 Flint Hill Rd, Mumford. Tue-Fri 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $3.50-$4. 538-6822, gcv.org

Rochester Museum and Science Center 657 East Ave. Through Sep 1: "Robots and Us" | Live Science! Demonstrations, Saturdays 2, 3 & 4 p.m., Sundays 2 & 3 p.m.| Murray's Mobile Lab, Saturdays & Sundays, 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30 p.m.| Science Saturdays, 11 .am.-4 p.m.| Telescope viewings, Saturdays, dark-10:30 p.m., Free. Call 271-4552 ext 411 after 7:30 p.m. to confirm.| Ongoing Exhibits: "How Things Work" | "K'NEX" | "Expedition Earth" | "Rochester's Frederick Douglass" | "AdventureZone" | Carlson Inquiry Room | "At the Western Door" | "Try Science Around the World" | Rochester Business Hall of Fame | Erie Canal Lock Interactive Model | Raceways | "Turbulent Landscapes" | Rochester's 1873 Time Capsule. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun noon-5 p.m. $9-$11. 271-1880, rmsc.org

Strasenburgh Planetarium 657 East Ave. Now showing: "The Human Body," "Pulse: A STOMP Odyssey"; star shows "I See the Sky," "Face of Earth," and "Spring Night Skies featuring Leo and the Big Dipper"; laser show "U2 Laser." $7-$9. 271-1880; rmsc.org.

Strong - National Museum of Play 1 Manhattan Square. Ongoing: Mondays: Toddler Book Club, 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. | "The Berenstain Bears: Down a Sunny Dirt Road," "U.S. of Play," "Reading Adventureland," "Field of Play," Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden. Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun noon-6 p.m. $9, $8 seniors and students; $7 children. $3 butterfly garden. 263-2700, museumofplay.org

Seneca Park Zoo 2222 St Paul St. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $8, $7 seniors, $5 ages 3-11, under 2 free. 467-WILD, senecaparkzoo.org.