Dec 16 2010
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has offered an award worth $1.5 million to Advancing Robotics Technology for Societal Impact (ARTSI) Alliance comprising nine Universities including Carnegie Mellon University and 19 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
This alliance focuses on training students of African American origin and enabling them to pursue jobs in computer science and robotics.
This two-year award will support ARTSI to frame outreach and additional curricula activities and for continuing a summer research program for undergraduate students.
David S. Touretzky, Research Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University and one of the Founders of the Alliance, has mentioned that the significance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is highlighted by the U.S. government to continue their domination in the competent world. He added that their country should develop future educators and researchers from its entire pool of talented students.
Till date, ARTSI has supported around 300 undergraduates, offered technical and counseling assistance to 23 faculties of HBCU, who have contributed around 60 robots to HBCUs for research and teaching.
The chief investigator for the ARTSI program is Chutima Boonthum-Denecke, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Hampton University. The co-principal investigators are Touretzky from Carnegie Mellon and Elva J. Jones from Winston-Salem State University.
Source: http://www.nsf.gov