BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Massachusetts – Students in the Springfield Technical Community College STEM Starter Academy participated in The Massachusetts National Guard S.T.E.M. Robotics Seminar, Feb. 20, 2019, at STCC in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Twelve teams of students competed against each other in the Urban Search and Rescue Robotics Challenge, a program that enables students to create a mobile robot like those employed by emergency service personnel.
The S.T.E.M. Robotics Seminar is a completely mobile learning laboratory that challenges teams of students to design, construct, and pilot original robotic creations in a healthy, competitive classroom setting.
The goal of the seminar is to spark an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for the current generation of students.
“We instruct students on the basics of robotics assembly,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ken Dowd, Massachusetts National Guard marketing and advertising non-commissioned officer. “They end up learning a lot.”
Dowd said his team is a state asset that can travel to any school or community in Massachusetts. They did over 300 events in 2018, he said.
“Rather than a school having to invest all that money, time, and training to bring it into their own school, we can travel with it,” said Dowd. “We’re sort of planting the seeds around the state and inspiring the kids to actually do it.”
Reena Randhir, STCC STEM Starter Academy director, said she believes the seminar is important to students because it exposes them to STEM career fields.
“We’re bringing the students together in an active learning environment,” said Randhir. “This is fun for them and it’s sparking the STEM interest. I think this gives the students an opportunity to find their strengths and interests. They’re getting confidence.”
Randhir said STCC has opportunities for students to pursue associates degrees in STEM fields if they choose to do so.
The STCC STEM Starter Academy is planning to host a Sustainathon April 25th, at STCC. The event is held to promote sustainable thinking and the Massachusetts National Guard is scheduled to have a booth set up to discuss Citizen Earth Watch.