Yale Alumni Group, FIRST Collaborate for Robotic Technology Awareness in School Students

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), founded by Dean Kamen for inspiring the younger generation towards science and technology, and Yale Science and Engineering Association have got together through a strategic alliance for working on a US-based pilot program that will work towards propagating the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in K-12 education.

FIRST and Yale will together raise funds for collaboration and promotion of after-school K-12 participation.

The situation that prevails at the high-end manufacturing companies in the US is that they are falling short of human resources with the necessary technical skills. Also US has taken a back seat in developing science and math skills in students when compared to countries like China and India. Dean Kamen is of the opinion that it is the prime need of the hour to instil strong STEM basics in young minds in order that US is also one of the leaders in science and technology. As part of the alliance FIRST will be assisting Yale Alumni by supplying resources like materials, guidelines for starting robotic teams and also marketing their ideas. The volunteers and members at Yale will help FIRST regionally by providing Mentors and Coaches for various FIRST organised events across different locations. Yale Alumni will collaborate with FIRST leadership and partners by working on a state-by-state basis in bringing about awareness of STEM concepts amongst young students. The pilot program will focus on organising robotic initiatives across all four first programs.