National Robotics Week is an annual call to action to inspire students in robotics and STEM-related fields and to share the excitement of robotics with audiences of all ages.

MassRobotics enjoyed a week filled with action! From the Governor’s visit to welcoming students from all over Boston and beyond, to an immersive session at the Microsoft NERD center in Cambridge.  Through hands-on experiences with cutting-edge robots, visiting students delved into the futuristic world of robotics, courtesy of our partner, United Robotics Group. Each student became a vital cog in their group’s success, feuling their passion for programming and revealing endless possibilities in the realm of robotics.

Our STEM team, Kevin Smith and Alethea Campbell, hosted schools from Baton Rouge, LA. Austin, Texas, and our local Boston Area at MassRobotics to provide a look at how robotics is shaping the world and examining how student’s current skills and knowledge overlaps with industry foundations.  Local schools hosted included:

TechBoston Academy, New Mission High School, Malden High School, English High, and Dearborn STEM Academy.

There was a memorable evening when Parent University brought families to MassRobotics to bond and grow together. Parent University is Boston Public School’s Initiative to build the capacity of parents to be actively engaged in their children’s education. “Watching proud parents learn alongside their children and smile due to the joy on their child’s face was a beautiful moment,” remarked Kevin Smith.

To close the National Robotics Week, students from four local schools, including a group with the Boston Mayor’s office, experienced programming at the NERD Center @ Microsoft Cambridge offices. MassRobotics STEM team worked with Microsoft employees to facilitate a Computer Aided Design (CAD) workshop. In their “Garage,” students learned the fundamentals of using a laser cutter and vinyl cutter to bring their projects to life. Of course, it would not be a MassRobotics experience if students did not get to explore dynamic robots. The closing of the event highlighted a student led fireside chat which inspired students to think about careers in a robotics and STEM field.

Thanks to our partner United Robotics Group for sponsoring and collaborating with us for a week of events and educational experiences for students!  (URG logo)  

And thank you to Microsoft for their role in making so many students smile during National Robotics Week. Microsoft logo

We were happy to be joined by Roberto Ventura from United Robotics Group, who brought a Nao robot to entertain the students.