Encouraging children to develop a love of learning is one of the most important assets we can invest in as a country and as a community. While attending and participating in school is important for any child, it’s also important to offer extra-curricular activities that can further build upon a child’s interest in learning. Extra-curricular activities also present children with the opportunity to explore avenues they might not otherwise have the ability to entertain.
Considering the importance of fostering the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and other STEM-related positions Pinpoint Laser Systems is one of several active sponsors for one of the FIRST Robotics Competition’s local team 2084; Robots By The C. This team is located a short distance from Peabody, MA in Manchester-by-the-Sea, and includes many high school students looking to further ignite their interest in various areas of STEM. Pinpoint engineers have helped this team since 2009 with robot design, mechanics, electronics, drive systems, pneumatics, fabricating parts, mentoring, and providing tools and equipment and other resources.
The FIRST Robotics Competition is for teens in grades 9-12, who work together in teams to design, build and program their own robots. Teams of students work collectively over 6 weeks to create dynamic robots to perform challenging tasks and later compete against other teams hoping to clinch a win.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989, by Dean Kamen, and continues to inspire children and teens to explore their interests in science and technology around the globe through several programs for children and teens in grades K-12. According to the official FIRST website, it is defined as a “leading, not-for-profit STEM engagement program for kids worldwide.”
In sponsoring Robots By The C, Pinpoint aims to inspire the next generation of doers by promoting the importance of these key learning areas – science, technology, engineering, and math while also promoting important life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork. This combination of learning and critical thinking is what will further shape their interest in pursuing a career in one of many STEM-related industries.
Here’s to the children and teens who are next in line to become the engineers, technologists, mathematicians, scientists, and manufacturers of tomorrow! Go team 2084!
To learn more about FIRST and the local team Pinpoint sponsors, Robots By The C, you can visit their website, here.
