The power of STEM: Shaping the next generation

In Episode 220 of The Robot Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the importance of STEM education in shaping the future workforce for robotics and autonomous systems. Guests Dhaval Jadav, CEO of alliantgroup, and Dr. Robert Ambrose, professor at Texas A&M and director of robotics and AI at alliantgroup, highlight the challenges and opportunities in developing a diverse and skilled talent pipeline. They emphasize how STEM programs from K-12 through higher education, along with robotics competitions, play a critical role in preparing engineers, technicians, and professionals to support the expanding robotics industry. Dr. Ambrose brings over 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at NASA, providing insight into translating robotics research into real-world applications. The episode also covers recent industry news, including significant layoffs at Teradyne Robotics, which owns Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots, due to revenue growth falling short of expectations. Teradyne cut about 14% of its global workforce following a