Nourbakhsh recognizes the advent of digital education as certain and full of opportunities for new kinds of learning. But he advises parents to ask, “How do I give my child the best possible preparation for a post-human future powered by technology?

Concerned about the global food crisis, Ciara Judge, Émer Hickey, and Sophie Healy-Thow were compelled to study the impact of bacteria on crop growth. Their findings—that naturally occurring strains of certain bacteria could significantly speed up crop growth and increase crop yield—may certainly contribute to the fight against global hunger. The research is impressive even without considering that Judge, Hickey, and Healy-Thow are just 16 years old.

Schools are working hard to engage students in computer programming and engineering, but resources are tight. And some kids lack access to high-tech tools at home. Can afterschool programs help bridge the gap?

Pennsylvania’s newly won federal grant for early childhood education is aimed at narrowing the school readiness gap—something several Pittsburgh organizations are already hard at work on.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett better watch out—young Pittsburgh makers have built a worthy competitor.

Clairton Robotics team overcomes adversity to defy expectations and take home the honors at regional and national BattleBots Championships this year.

When a local robotics team couldn’t afford the trip to nationals, parents, teachers, and business leaders from around the country stepped in to help.

The shortage of young women entering STEM fields is not simply a question of gender equality. It’s a threat to economic growth. We take a look at how roboticists and engineers in Pittsburgh are working to change that.

Can STEM education help empower today’s students to use tomorrow’s robotic technology for the public good?

In a challenge to use robotics to create a healthier, safer, and cleaner world, student engineers designed robots that can collect your trash and rehabilitate endangered animals. What’s next?

Click! Spy School engages middle school girls ages 10–14 to become “agents-in-training” as they explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

  Spark-funded organization Interbots recently took first place in a competition sponsored by The Robotics Technology Consortium, Carnegie Mellon University and the Innovation Accelerator. RoboBowl Pittsburgh is the first in a series of new venture competitions aimed at supporting start-ups that utilize robotics in ways that improve healthcare, manufacturing, national defense, and education. Interbots specializes in […]

Meet Dr. R.E. Cycler, a robot built by Florida Robotics to teach children about recycling. The robot runs on solar power and can move and interact with children. He also “eats” cans by crushing them and storing them in his belly where they are later taken to a recycling facility. The doctor was first built […]

Check out this neat tutorial on how to build a miniature robot using an Altoids tin. Read these instructions and do it yourself! Robotics can be a great teaching tool and an easy way to get kids interested in the sciences. Several Spark funded projects involve robotics including Curious Creatures from Art Energy Design, Character […]