Articles tagged with "STEM-education"
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
robotroboticsSTEM-educationautonomous-systemscollaborative-robotsworkforce-developmenttechnology-innovationMeet the Palestinian Teens Trying to Win Robotics Gold
Five Palestinian teenagers from Team Palestine are set to compete in the upcoming FIRST Global Challenge in Panama City, one of the world’s largest youth robotics competitions. Their robot is designed to navigate challenges inspired by climate change effects. Beyond aiming for victory, the team seeks to represent Palestine on the international stage and promote STEM education among peers affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict. The team’s efforts come amid ongoing regional instability, with a recent fragile ceasefire allowing them to finalize their project. Team Palestine was founded in 2018 by Khalil DarOmar and Sara Saleh, a husband-and-wife duo from Ramallah with backgrounds in computer science and logistics. Despite having no prior experience in robotics, they were motivated to ensure Palestine’s participation in the global competition. Early challenges included shipment restrictions imposed by Israeli military control, which prevented the team from receiving essential robotics kits. To overcome this, they collaborated remotely with teams from Canada and other countries, who built and transported the robot on their behalf. Over time,
roboticsSTEM-educationyouth-robotics-competitionFIRST-Global-ChallengePalestine-robotics-teamclimate-change-roboticsrobotics-innovationRobot battle: Nearly 50 miniature bots fight at UK championship event
The UK Beetle Championship, held at St Michael’s Centre in Stoke Gifford, Bristol, showcased nearly 50 miniature robots weighing 3.3 pounds or less competing in head-to-head battles. Organized by the Bristol Bot Builders, the event aimed to promote STEM education by engaging participants and spectators in robotics through an interactive and accessible format. Unlike larger combat robots seen on shows like Robot Wars, these beetleweight bots are smaller, more affordable, and easier to build, yet still capable of delivering powerful hits using weapons such as spinning discs that can reach speeds of 250 mph. Around 300 spectators attended the event, which emphasized hands-on learning and community involvement over pure spectacle. Bristol has become a prominent hub for robot combat in the UK, attracting engineers, students, and hobbyists who dedicate significant time to designing, assembling, and programming their robots. Participants engage in a continuous cycle of building, testing, and refining their machines throughout the year, often programming them for autonomous operation
roboticsrobot-combatSTEM-educationautonomous-robotsrobot-engineeringrobot-battlesUK-robotics-eventsSolving the labor crisis: How community colleges fuel the robotics workforce - The Robot Report
The article highlights the critical role community colleges play in addressing the skilled labor shortage in the robotics and automation industry. Unlike the common perception that four-year degrees are essential for high-tech careers, community colleges provide accessible, affordable, and targeted education for technicians who assemble, test, install, and maintain robots and automated machinery. Sierra College in Rocklin, California, serves as a prime example, offering mechatronics programs that combine electronics, mechanical theory, and hands-on lab experience to prepare students for well-paying, in-demand jobs. The college actively adapts its curriculum based on industry needs, such as scaling back automotive technician training to focus on essential skills aligned with local employer requirements. Local high-tech companies like Bosch have supported Sierra College by funding curriculum development in areas like high-voltage electronics and circuit design, ensuring students gain relevant skills such as PLC ladder logic and robot programming. The program benefits from strong industry partnerships, with companies participating in advisory committees to shape course content. The college’s acquisition of industrial robots
roboticsworkforce-developmentmechatronicsautomationSTEM-educationskilled-laborcommunity-collegesFesto Didactic celebrates Manufacturing Day, dedicates efforts to workforce development - The Robot Report
Festo Didactic, the vocational and technical training division of global automation company Festo SE, is celebrating its 100th anniversary alongside National Manufacturing Day, which launches Manufacturing Month in the U.S. Manufacturing Day, organized by the Manufacturing Institute, highlights modern factories and production technologies while promoting STEM education and addressing skilled labor shortages through events and job fairs. Ted Rozier, director of digital, advanced technology, and robotics at Festo Didactic, emphasized the company’s century-long innovation and its broad involvement in areas such as digitization and workforce development. Rozier discussed the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing, noting the importance of using AI thoughtfully to enhance production processes rather than viewing it as a threat. He highlighted the need for education around data classification, predictive maintenance, and the integration of AI tools to empower technicians and operators—currently among the most in-demand manufacturing roles—to make better decisions and improve efficiency. On workforce development, Rozier stressed the importance of teaching practical skills across educational
roboticsmanufacturingworkforce-developmentAI-in-manufacturingautomationindustrial-roboticsSTEM-educationMassRobotics encourages high school girls interested in STEM to apply for Jumpstart Fellowship - The Robot Report
MassRobotics has opened applications for Cohort 6 of its Jumpstart Fellowship, a program designed to prepare high school girls for careers in robotics and STEM fields. Running from January to May 2026, the program includes Saturday sessions, a week of robotics company visits during the February school vacation, and paid internships to provide real-world experience. The fellowship targets female juniors and seniors in Massachusetts, prioritizing Boston students, and offers opportunities to engage with mentors and alumnae, including at the upcoming Robot Block Party on September 27. Since its inception in 2021, the Jumpstart Fellowship has empowered 98 girls across Massachusetts, with 88% pursuing STEM careers, primarily in engineering and computer science. The program emphasizes technical skill development, professional networking, and confidence-building to help young women envision and succeed in STEM pathways. MassRobotics will also honor women leaders in robotics at its annual gala on October 25, celebrating notable researchers and featuring Jumpstart alumnae as guests. The organization continues
roboticsSTEM-educationwomen-in-STEMrobotics-careersrobotics-internshipsrobotics-mentorshipSTEM-fellowshipHow STEM and competitive robotics are shaping tomorrow's workforce - The Robot Report
The article highlights how competitive robotics programs like FIRST play a crucial role in preparing the next generation for STEM careers by fostering teamwork, problem-solving, and real-world skills. Through personal experience mentoring the ACME Robotics team since 2013, the author emphasizes that these programs teach students not only technical skills like CAD design, machining, and electronics but also essential business concepts such as market understanding and product development. The structure of annual competitions with changing challenges encourages innovation, collaboration, and time management, mirroring real-world engineering and business environments. FIRST’s core value of “gracious professionalism” promotes respectful competition and cooperation among teams. FIRST offers programs for all K-12 age groups, progressively building skills from Lego-based projects to full robot design and fabrication at the high school level. Alumni of FIRST are highly sought after by colleges and employers, often receiving preferential consideration during recruitment, underscoring the program’s effectiveness in career preparation. The article calls for community involvement, stressing that mentors, volunteers, and funding are
roboticsSTEM-educationcompetitive-roboticsFIRST-programsrobotics-mentorshiprobotics-competitionsrobotics-workforce-developmentWhy Is Big Oil Curricula Finding Acceptance In Educational Settings? - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the growing presence and acceptance of Big Oil-funded curricula in educational settings, focusing on the example of Equinor, a Norwegian oil company sponsoring STEM classrooms called Newton Rooms in the Shetland Islands, UK. While these initiatives aim to promote STEM education and engage youth in science and technology, they are also viewed as strategic moves by oil companies to protect their business interests and shape public perception. Equinor has invested heavily in sponsorships across educational institutions and programs, including scholarships, research, and interactive games designed to influence children’s understanding of energy, often downplaying the environmental impact of fossil fuels. Critics, including local politicians like Highlands and Islands MSP Ariane Burgess, express concern over the influence that fossil fuel companies have on educational content, arguing that it risks presenting a biased narrative that favors the industry’s image rather than providing a full and truthful account of climate change. The article highlights tensions around Equinor’s ongoing oil and gas projects, such as the controversial Rosebank
energyoil-industrySTEM-educationnet-zerodecarbonizationnatural-gasrenewable-energy-transitionAmerica can't out-innovate China without mechanical engineers - or robots - The Robot Report
The article highlights a critical challenge facing the U.S. manufacturing sector: a significant shortage of mechanical engineers, which undermines efforts to reshore manufacturing and compete with countries like China. While China graduates over 350,000 mechanical engineers annually, the U.S. produces fewer than 45,000, creating a structural disadvantage in scaling industrial innovation. This shortage extends beyond mechanical engineering to other vital fields such as industrial, controls, and manufacturing engineering. The author stresses that addressing this gap requires more than policy changes; it demands a national strategy focused on enhancing STEM education and expanding access to practical, scalable robotics automation. Automation and robotics are presented not as job replacers but as essential tools that enable engineers and technicians to increase productivity, especially in small and midsize manufacturing firms that often lack resources to implement advanced systems. However, high costs and technical barriers limit access to these technologies. Initiatives like ROS-Industrial aim to make robotics more modular and accessible, but success also depends on comprehensive education, training,
robotsmechanical-engineeringmanufacturing-automationSTEM-educationindustrial-innovationrobotics-automationreshoring-manufacturing