MTU Summer Youth Programs Offers New Middle School Scholarship Program

HOUGHTON — A new middle school scholarship program is now available for Michigan Technological University’s 2015 Summer Youth Programs during the July 26-August 1 session. The program offers a week-long discovery of the field of robotics from two new perspectives.

By working with two of Michigan Tech’s robots (GUPPIE and Neu-pulator), students will learn how robots can help explore the environment and augment human capabilities. Current middle school students (grades 6-8) are invited to apply. The course will explore two different applications of robotics with hands-on activities like assembling, programming and designing parts for two robots. In the course students will:

· Learn about co-robots and their application in human life

· Learn how underwater robots — such as underwater gliders — work, then collect data to predict change and prevent hazards

· Learn how assistive robots — such as prosthetic legs or arms — work and explore how the robots augment people’s capabilities and improve life quality

· Experience assembling, programming and designing new parts for robots GUPPIE and Neu-pulator

· Experiment with GUPPIE to collect water data and swim with it!

· Experiment with Neu-pulator and use electrical activity of human muscles to move a manipulator.

The scholarship is first-come, first-served with only 20 seats available. Each participant will receive a partial scholarship to offset the costs — with a commuter student cost of $180 and live-in student cost of $415. Acceptance to the program requires completing an Intro to Robotics application, which can be found online at: http://www.syp.mtu.edu/tuition-dates-scholarship.php

For more than 40 years, Michigan Tech faculty, students, role models and other professionals have been leading Summer Youth Programs – Pre-College Explorations (middle and high school) and Competitive Scholarship Programs (high school)-built around activities, field trips and team projects. Summer Youth Programs is a division of the Center for Pre-College Outreach at Michigan Tech and offers students an opportunity to experience a miniature version of college life. Students live in our full-service residence hall, eat in the dining hall, and participate in their chosen exploration.

Additionally, Summer Youth Programs offers many different camps and explorations to choose from — business, computing, engineering, humanities, leadership, social sciences, outdoor and environmental studies and science and technology. Each camp is a week long, with camps beginning June 21, and ending Aug. 1. For more information on SYP camps or scholarship opportunities visit www.syp.mtu.edu or call the CPCO office at (906) 487-2219.

The CPCO founded and operates Mind Trekkers, a non-profit traveling science roadshow that creates opportunities for K-12 Students to engage in learning through hands-on activities in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. Mind Trekkers was created in 2010 and all demonstrations are operated by Michigan Tech undergraduate and graduate student volunteers. For more information on Mind Trekkers or to view their 2015 roadshow schedule please visitwww.mindtrekkers.mtu.edu.