FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BRIEF PREPARED FOR STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN CANADA 21 APRIL 2015
FIRST Robotics Canada – Overview and impact of
STEM education for girls and women.
Presented by Dorothy Byers Karen Low Directors, FIRST Canada
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• Dean Kamen – Founder FIRST Robotics 1989
(US) • Inventor of note: Segway, Insulin Pump, Bio
Mechanical Arm
• Mr. Kamen’s vision: “That Scientists will be the 21st Century’s Superstars”
• 2002 FIRST begins in Canada
FIRST Fast Facts
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FIRST in Canada Each year new: team members, game, robot
Each year more students use STEM in FIRST
FRC Kickoff world wide at the same time
Teams compete in regional events
Advance to the World Championships to compete with international teams at all levels – 10,0000 participants
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FIRST Background • FIRST Robotics Canada – 2002 FRC high school program included 26
Canadian teams (2 all-girls).
• 2014 - 175 teams with over 4,300 direct participants - 30% annual growth. FIRST was so successful in high schools that there was demand to engage younger students! • Kindergarten to grade 8 – Junior FIRST LEGO League and FIRST LEGO
League; 760 teams in 2014 in Ontario. Jr. FLL and FLL season begins in September.
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Funding – sponsors include
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Funding for growth
• Federal Government Financial support received to grow FIRST in Canada.
• 2011-14 FIRST Canada Robotics received
$1.5M over 3 years. • Ontario Ministry of Education grant
provided $3M over 5 years. • Impact: Federal support grew FIRST to
double the number of teams, students and competitions.
• From 2011 to 2014 increase in all girls’
teams by 400% (from 2 to 10) from only 1 in 2004. • June 2013 – 2 FRC teams meet Prime
Minister Harper.
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
✔ STEM program initiated in targeted groups: girls, First Nations, visually and hearing impaired, at-risk students
✔ Engagement of students in under-resourced areas
✔ Network building: students with mentors ✔ Development of the next generation of STEM
leaders ✔ Support for innovative programs ✔ Transformation of science, technology and
engineering into a popular sport ✔ Empowerment of women to make courageous
post-secondary and career choices
The impact of your support
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
GOOD to GREAT News
• 50 / 50 ratio of girls /boys in LEGO
League (K-8). • 35 / 65 ratio of women/men in FRC
(9-12). • Majority of women on all teams stay
engaged in STEM. The GREAT NEWS - 87% to 90% of girls on all-girls’ teams go on to STEM education.
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Brandeis University Study “More Than Robots” (Funded by Ford Foundation)
Academic Impact
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• Competence with new skills • Connecting with role models • Coaching through the FIRST network • Confidence to do anything • Passion for STEM
Success for women
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
$26 Million in scholarships worldwide; $150,000 in Canada Carleton University
Nipissing University Queen’s University
Ryerson University University of Waterloo Western University UOIT University of Windsor University of Toronto York University Universities see FIRST students as highly desirable
University Affiliations