Offical R.O.B.O.T.S. Website
(Please click here to go directly to R.O.B.O.T.S. Website)

The National Science Foundation-funded Robotics: Opportunities for Building Outstanding Talent in the Sciences (R.O.B.O.T.S.) Project - project has officially ended in 2010.

Robotics: Opportunities for Building Outstanding Talent in the Sciences (R.O.B.O.T.S.) is a two-year project funded by The National Science Foundation. It is designed to provide awareness of the scientific world especially that described through astronomy and physics. Two hundred ten (210) underserved rural, urban and suburban students in grades six to eight are provided 200 hours of out-of-school time (OST) evening, Saturday and summer intensive hands-on, inquiry-based STEM experiences, with a special focus on astronomy, physics and robotics. The project will help to improve students’ understanding of STEM by: (1) exposing them to non-traditional science fields such as astronomy and physics via robotics;
(2) e-mentoring by STEM professionals. When students complete this project they will be able to make a smooth transition to advanced level, high school mathematics and science courses with the knowledge of scientific competitions, research opportunities, and college majors and careers that they will be qualified to pursue.

The program components include:

Ø spring and fall Saturday Academy Sessions

Ø three-week Summer Program

Ø STEM E-Mentors

Ø team challenges and robotics competitions

Ø field trips and college tours

Ø videoconferences and symposia

Ø parent involvement workshops and activities

Ø recognition programs

Major Project Partners:

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) - Click on the link to see recent photos of workshops held at different NC-MSEN Pre-College Program sites
Tyco Electronics
North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA)
IBM Centers for Advanced Studies
Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative
Seven out of nine NC-MSEN Pre-College Program sites (Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina A&T State University,
North Carolina State University, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, and Winston-Salem State University)


Please click here for the R.O.B.O.T.S. press release.

Great Opportunities for Educators in NC: 3rd Annual NASA STEM Educators Workshop Seriest

It’s not too late! Sign up today for the 3rd Annual NASA STEM Educators Workshop Series. Educators are invited to register for 1, 2, or 3 days of workshop training that explores engineering design challenges, problem-based learning activities, distance learning modules, inquiry-based lessons, and hands-on projects. Attendees can earn between 6 to18 hours toward continuing education units (CEUs). REGISTRATION IS FREE. Join us as we Embrace the Challenge to Innovate on March 1st – March 3rd, 2011 at Whitewater Middle School, 1520 Belmeade Drive, Charlotte, NC 28214.

To register visit http://aesp.psu.edu/register

For more information on registration contact:

Brandon Hargis at Brandon.hargis@nasa.gov or Chris Gamrat at cwg118@psu.edu

Associate Director of NC-MSEN PCP was Featured on A Local Community Newspaper in Western North Carolina

Mrs. Rita Fuller, the Associate Director of NC-MSEN PCP and Co-PI of R.O.B.O.T.S. Project, was featured in The Mountain Voice, a local community newspaper in Western North Carolina. She was one of the two new board members of Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI). To read about article, please click here (in pdf).

NSF-Sponsored R.O.B.O.T.S. Symposium at PARI is a Huge Success

On Friday, July 27, 2007 more than 180 students, teachers, parents, and coordinators from six of the NC-MSEN Pre-College Program Sites (ECSU, FSU, UNC CH, UNCC, NCSU, and WSSU) converged on the campus of the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) for a day long R.O.B.O.T.S. Symposium, including a Robotics competition. In addition, business/industry representatives, university faculty, and community volunteers attended the event. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners of the robotics competition were UNC-Chapel Hill, WSSU and ECSU, respectively. Click the following links for photo shots from the day.

http://www.pari.edu/about_pari/pari-photos/current-photos/photos-from-the-july-27-2007-r-o-b-o-t-s-symposium/ (Six pages total)
http://www.uncp.edu/home/jose/public-html/robot/pari/index.html
http://www.pari.edu/about_pari/pari-photos/current-photos/photos-of-the-r-o-b-o-t-s-symposium-participants/ (Eleven pages total)

Final Summer Session of the R.O.B.O.T.S. Program at the Winston-Salem State University

The final summer class of the Winston-Salem State University's R.O.B.O.T.S. Program was held on Friday, July 13, 2007. The participants in the R.O.B.O.T.S. Summer Program included rising seventh grade students. The students created and presented power point presentations on their individual career goals, which included career outlook research. In addition, two students presented essays about their R.O.B.O.T.S. summer experience. The activities concluded with teams of students competing in the Robotics competition, which they built and programmed during the three week summer session. Parents, teachers, counselors, University administrators, student guides, and Network staff were invited to the event. All were extremely impressed by the students' work. Please click here to view all the pictures taken at the event.