1. 2012-13 R OBOT P ROGRAMMING C OMPETITIONS VIP S ESSION

2. D R. P ETER W ILLIAMS  Dean of Science  Acadia University

3. Schools 8 school boards 130 schools Community Volunteers Donors spectators Industry Michelin Eastlink RBC AVR/Magic 949 Apple Pratt & Whitney Shannex NSBI Government Education Economics & Rural Development Labour & Advanced Education Post Secondary Acadia University Nova Scotia Community College

4. T HANK Y OU !! Your contributions, efforts and time are making a difference!

5. RPC M OTIVES AND O BJECTIVES  Attract the hearts and minds of young scientists, mathematicians, engineers and entrepreneurs  Show our youth that they can build tomorrow’s technology today in Atlantic Canada  Stimulate interest in STEM careers for the Digital Economy  To encourage and develop teamwork skills  To show that all of this can be a lot of fun!

6. RPC O VERVIEW  LEGO Mindstorms Robots – significant focus on problem solving, computer programming, and engineering  Teams judged on:  robot challenges, technical design  research project (Senior Solutions),  core values and teamwork

7. RPC O VERVIEW Started 2005, Two Competitions: FLL (FIRST Lego League) – ages 9-14 HRC (High school Robotics) - ages 14-18 1700 youth from across NS have partcip. Over 350 youth/200 adults every year Fosters STEM connections

8. H ISTORY OF S UCCESS  Over 1700 youth from across NS have participated since 2005  Over 200 adult coaches, mentors and volunteers in STEM every year since 2007  Three FLL teams have attend FIRST World Festivals  Proven track record of fiscally managing and levering invested dollars  Made connections between leaders in gov’t, industry and community who understand the importance of STEM for children, the educational system and the economy (eg. Girl Guides, WISE Atlantic, Imhotep)  Inspired summer camps, workshops, and new school curriculum  Been recognized by federal (NSERC, ACOA) and provincial bodies (NS Discovery Center) dedicated to STEM.

9. R ECENT NS G OV ’ T F UNDING WILL ALLOW US TO..  Create a multi-year plan for increasing and sustaining the number of youth involved  Better solicit for additional financial and in-kind support to cover the annual budget  More fully market and promote the program throughout Nova Scotia  Better track youth participation and the connection to educational and career choices  Discover and nurture new partnerships in STEM leadership and promotion with industry and government.

10. I NNOVATIVE S YSTEMS V IDEO

11. T HE H ONOURABLE M ARILYN M ORE  MLA for Dartmouth South- Portland Valley  Minister of Labour and Advanced Education, Minister of Immigration, Province of Nova Scotia

12. M R. B RUCE T AWSE  Vice President, Academic  Nova Scotia Community College

13. T HE H ONOURABLE R AMONA J ENNEX  MLA for Kings South  Minister of Education, Province of Nova Scotia

14. M S. V ALERIE K NEEN -T EED  FLL Coach  Evangeline Middle School Team Smarticle Particles

15. T HANK Y OU ! ROBOTS.ACADIAU.CA... and off to the gym …

16. RPC O VERVIEW  Since 2006, two competitions  FLL (FIRST Lego League) – ages 11-14, 32 teams  HRC (High school Robotics) - ages 14-18, 13 teams  NSCC: qualifying rounds at 5 campuses across the province  Acadia: $100,000 budget, 115 volunteers