Using Robotics as a Pathway to Interdisciplinary STEM Education

Seminar 9
Date
Apr 30, 2024, 9:00 am3:00 pm
Audience
PK-12 Community

Speakers

Anirudha Majumdar, Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Details

Event Description

As someone whose excitement for engineering was piqued at an early age through countless hours spent with LEGO Mindstorms kits, I firmly believe that robotics is an ideal platform for getting students excited about STEM at an early stage. In this seminar, we will discuss how robotics might serve as a pathway for introducing students to elements of engineering design, physics, probability, statistics, and programming. We will also discuss how robotics can be used to explore topics of broader societal interest such as ethics (what should an autonomous car do if faced with two equally bad options?), the economy (how will automation affect jobs?), and the law (who is liable if an autonomous drone crashes on someone’s property?). Join us for a visit to
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department teaching/research labs and learn about our teaching efforts at the undergraduate and graduate levels, where students learn through project-based assignments on drones.