TAMIU School of Engineering Presents ‘Girl Scouts Robotics and Engineering Day’

Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) School of Engineering will present a fun and educational robotics workshop this weekend to encourage more local female students to pursue careers in engineering in the future.

The Girl Scouts Robotics and Engineering Day will be Saturday, March 24 from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center (LBVSC).

Hosted by the TAMIU DustyTron Robotics student teams, which regularly participate in NASA-sponsored robotics mining competitions, the event is part of the TAMIU School of Engineering’s Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program- Engineering and Science Improvement and Retention Enhancement (MSEIP-ESIRE).

Dr. Tariq Tashtoush, assistant professor of Engineering and TAMIU MSEIP-ESIRE project director, said 60 Laredo Girl Scouts students, representing two Girl Scouts groups, will participate in the workshop.

“This workshop is part of our effort to engage students, family and community members in activities to raise awareness of the engineering programs at TAMIU and partner institutions,” Dr. Tashtoush said, “It is essential to inform the whole community about the need for trained students with the academic and technical skills necessary to support the future economic development of South Texas.”

At the event, students will learn about engineering disciplines and participate in hands-on exercises using state-of-the-art equipment such as driving simulators, manufacturing lines, CNC machines, he said. They will also build robots and compete.

“In addition, we will expose students to the importance of oral and written presentations by asking them to present their projects and robot ideas,” Tashtoush said.

The workshop schedule is as follows:

8:30 – 8:45 am          Registration

8:45 – 9:45 am          Engineering Presentation by TAMIU DustyTRON and DustySWARM NASA Robotics and lab tour (LBVSC 205)

9:45 – 11:30 pm        Preparation & Buildup (LBVSC 218 & 220)

11:30 – 12:30 pm      Break & Lunch (LBV 202)

12:30 – 2:30 pm        Buildup and control  (LBVSC 218 & 220)

2:30 – 4:30 pm          Competition (LBVSC Second Floor)

4:30 pm                      Students Depart

For more information, please contact Dr. Tashtoush at 956.326.2600, email tariq.tashtoush@tamiu.edu or visit offices in LBVSC, room 323.

University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.