Rockin’ Robots: World Tour Set To Debut in October

Science on the Road Teams Up With Cal U To Deliver Outreach Programming on Robotics To Local Schools and Beyond

PITTSBURGH — Carnegie Science Center announced today that Rockin’ Robots: World Tour, Science on the Road’s newest science education program developed and presented in partnership with California University of Pennsylvania, will debut in October.

Rockin’ Robots: World Tour, conceived and developed by Science Center education specialists, is a high-energy, interactive multimedia show that incorporates a series of large-scale demonstrations and interactive experiences all about robotics. The program takes students on a whirlwind journey across the globe to discover robots hard at work in factories, hospitals, and homes as they design and deploy a heroic band of ‘bots to help humanity.

The show features a childlike animatronic robot named Quasi, developed by Interbots, a local robotics company. Quasi will appear as a robot educator throughout the program. His sidekick, Rosie Rivets, is a real working Amatrol Pegasus II robot arm. Using virtual simulation software, students will be able to control Rosie’s movements on stage to crush cans, play musical instruments, and perform a telesurgery game. Additional components include video of Cal U’s Climb-Bot rope-climbing robot and a series of robotic toys and flying gadgets created by Wow Wee Robotics, among others.

“We are enthusiastic about our growing partnership with Cal U and are excited to unveil a robotics-themed outreach program,” says Ron Baillie, Henry Buhl, Jr. co-director of Carnegie Science Center. “Once again we have incorporated quality education, interactive experiences, and regional ties into a 45-minute show that will excite students and teach them about one of the world’s fastest-growing fields.”

Adaptable for grades 1–8, Rockin’ Robots: World Tour is one of more than 40 Science on the Road programs delivered by Carnegie Science Center to more than 225,000 students throughout the region each year. Science on the Road was established in 1983 and reaches students throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York, with programs covering a wide range of math and science topics presented in classrooms, school assemblies, and after-school workshops.

“At any one moment in the Pittsburgh area, there are more than 1,000 unfilled jobs in science and technology,” says Ann Metzger, Henry Buhl, Jr. co-director of Carnegie Science Center. “Our goal both at the Science Center and through Science on the Road is to get kids excited about science at an early age and make it accessible and fun in order to help create the workforce to fill these open positions in the future.”

Rockin’ Robots: World Tour will be available to schools beginning in October; schools can call to book now at 412.237.3374. Capacity for one show is 250 students, and each program runs about 45 minutes. Schools also can add Adventure Stations, which allows students to get even more hands-on with content they learned in the assembly program.

Funding for this program was generously provided in part by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation.

The show also will feature a custom-designed van that will travel to schools, and pre- and post- visit activities are available for teachers. Complete information is available online .

About California University of Pennsylvania

Now serving more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students, California University of Pennsylvania is dedicated to excellence in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional studies. Cal U has been listed for six consecutive years among the Princeton Review’s Best Northeastern Colleges, and a study of online schools has ranked Cal U No. 2 in the nation for its Internet-based degree programs. A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, California University is located just 35 miles from Pittsburgh. For more information, visit www.calu.edu .

About Carnegie Science Center

Carnegie Science Center is dedicated to inspiring learning and curiosity by connecting science and technology with everyday life. By making science both relevant and fun, the Science Center’s goal is to increase science literacy in the region and motivate young people to seek careers in science and technology. One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Science Center is Pittsburgh’s premier science exploration destination, reaching more than 700,000 people annually through its hands-on exhibits, camps, classes, and off-site education programs.

About Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1895, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a collection of four distinctive museums dedicated to exploration through art and science: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. In 2009, the museums reached more than 1.2 million people through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events.