U of Michigan Awarded Google Grant to Expand After-School Robotics Program

  • By Staff
  • 05/19/17

Students learn hands-on at the Michigan Engineering Zone. Image: University of Michigan.

More students in Detroit Public Schools will be participating in after-school programs in science and engineering, thanks to a $250,000 grant from Google to the Michigan Engineering Zone, a makerspace project of the University of Michigan College of Engineering.

The nearly 48,000-student school district is working with the MEZ as well as FIRST Robotics to get hundreds of students interested in pursuing STEM careers. The MEZ provides space, mentorship and tools to students as they build and test robots to compete in the FIRST Robotics competition.

The MEZ just wrapped up its eighth season with 18 high school FIRST teams and more than 275 students from the Detroit area. A majority of participating high school seniors were accepted into two- and four-year colleges and universities and plan to pursue careers in science or technology.

The grant from Google will “allow the program to build the infrastructure to expand by 33 percent to reach a total of 500 students per year,” according to a university statement.

Featured

  • a glowing gaming controller, a digital tree structure, and an open book

    Report: Use of Game Engines Expands Beyond Gaming

    Game development technology is increasingly being utilized beyond its traditional gaming roots, according to the recently released annual "State of Game Development" report from development and DevOps solutions provider Perforce Software.

  • abstract representation of equity at the core of AI

    Why Equity Must Be a Core Part of the Conversation About AI

    AI is an immensely powerful tool that can provide customized support for students with diverse learning needs, tailoring educational experiences to meet student’s individual needs more effectively. However, significant disparities in AI access and digital literacy skills prevent many of these same students from fully leveraging its benefits.

  • Man wearing headset working on a computer

    Internet2: Network Routing Security and RPKI Adoption in Research and Education

    We ask James Deaton, vice president of network services, about Internet2's initiatives and leadership efforts to promote routing security and RPKI adoption in research and higher education networks.

  • network of transparent cloud icons, each containing a security symbol like a lock or shield

    Okta, OpenID Foundation Propose New Identity Security Standard

    Okta and the OpenID Foundation have announced the formation of the IPSIE Working Group — with the acronym standing for Interoperability Profiling for Secure Identity in the Enterprise — dedicated to a new identity security standard for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.