young women in science
Girl-bot Robotics
Young Women in Science program began its robotics programs in 2004 through a collaboration with Tufts University’s Center for Engineering Education Outreach. Tuft’s staff provided a summer intensive that trained high school girls in LEGO robotics. These girls assisted elementary teachers in classroom robotics and coached the first robotics coed teams. Flying Cloud Institute has continued training new girls who helped to create the first all girls robotics team in 2007.
Girlbots - A robotics team consists of ten girls from ages ten through fourteen. The coaches are high school girls who have been trained in robotics. The team meets over ten weeks to build a robot that can solve a prescribed list of maneuvers in a given time. The girls learn engineering principles and teamwork. They learn the important skills of how to perform within a deadline under the stress of competition; skills essential to success in a career in engineering. The girls who were the first coaches are now engineering majors in college.
2010 News - During the 2009-10 school year, Flying Cloud Institute expanded its support of girls’ robotics teams in the Berkshire's public schools. In addition to the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, girls teams have been created at Berkshire Hills Regional School District and Lee Middle/High school. Forming a new team is challenging, hard work and both the new teams did a fantastic job learning all the ropes and then competing at the Berkshire Robotics Challenge in Lenox their very first year. The "Ladies in Black", from BHRSD won an award for "overcoming all obstacles". They and the "Roadrunners" from SBRSD and the "Peace Officers" from Lee had a solid showing with the Roadrunners bringing home a "Team Spirit" award for their enthusiasm.
2009 News - This year, Flying Cloud Institute had two all-girl robotics teams at Southern Berkshire Regional School. At the Berkshire Robotics Challenge in Lenox, The "Whacko Sisters" made it to the Great Eight and placed seventh overall. They also won the "Most Spirited Team" trophy at the end of the day. The "Robotic Duckies" did especially well, bringing home a trophy for placing third out of twenty-seven teams as well as a trophy for "Best Programming". The Robotics Duckies were also able to achieve the highest single round score in the Challenge of March 21, 2009. A fantastic time was had by all.
2008 - The Gig-O-Pigs all girls robotics team of at Southern Berkshire Regional School proved that girls make great engineers. This group worked together at weekly practices for ten weeks with their high school girl mentors to solve the LEGO robotics challenge of 2008. Through their well designed robot and excellent programming they were able to achieve the highest single round score in the Ninth Annual Berkshire Robotics Challenge on March 15, 2008. They were runner up out of twenty-three teams.
