More than 75 middle school students from Troy and the surrounding community had an opportunity to “learn that science can be fun,” as part of a two-week summer program Aug. 7-18 developed by Rensselaer’s Center for Initiatives in Pre-College education (CIPCE). The students used LEGO MINDSTORMS™ robot technology to design, construct, and program robotic solutions to perform complex engineering challenges.

Photo by Rensselaer/Kris Qua

“This is an opportunity to help students understand the common themes that connect math, science, engineering, and technology. Through the program’s hands-on, fun activities we are reaching out to students in our local community, and giving them the tools they need so that they will learn to be confident in applying these themes to other areas of learning,” said Lester Rubenfeld, director of CIPCE. “It is our hope that we can encourage them to be part of the solution to the critical national challenge to fill the science pipeline, by inspiring historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students to consider careers in science, engineering, and technology.”

The students participated in a series of technology, innovation, and team-building workshops that included: introduction to robotics, LEGO principles of construction, and introductory programming, among others. In addition, teams of students were engaged in several challenges focused on principles of engineering design, brainstorming, and teamwork. For example, one project required students to learn how to have robots communicate between each other. The students had to write code and test it by having their robots race against each other in a relay race.

The Lego Robotics Engineering Academy program was offered in three sessions during July and August, in collaboration with Summer@Rensselaer and the Troy School District.

Published August 28, 2006