Dwayne C. Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov
Brandi Dean
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
brandi.k.dean@nasa.gov
Renee Fairrer
Boys Scouts of America, Dallas
972-580-2051
media.center@scouting.org
RELEASE: 11-110
NASA AND BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA UNVEIL NEW MERIT BADGE
WASHINGTON -- Boy Scouts now have the opportunity to work with NASA
and other technology professionals to design, build, and demonstrate
a robot to earn the new Robotics merit badge.
NASA and BSA developed the badge because of the wide-reaching impact
of robotics and its role in science, technology, engineering, and
math, or STEM careers. The badge is now part of the BSA's new
curriculum emphasizing STEM activities and will help young men
develop critical skills relevant and needed in today's competitive
world. The new merit badge is one of 31 STEM-related merit badges.
Scouts will have access to engineering software and work with
professional mentors worldwide to earn the badge.
"This unique partnership is another clear example of NASA looking at
new and creative ways to inspire our youth to consider STEM careers,"
said Lyndon Bridgwater, NASA aerospace engineer and lead badge
contributor from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The badge involved approximately 14 months of development and input
from 13 organizations and more than 150 BSA youth members and leaders
and industry professionals from across the nation. To earn the
Robotics merit badge, a scout is required to understand how robots
move, sense the environment and understand how to perform an
operation. Scouts will spend approximately 14 hours meeting the
requirements of the badge, during which they will design a robot and
demonstrate how it works. The BSA anticipates more than 10,000
Robotics merit badges will be earned the first year.
"While the guiding principles of Scouting -- service to others,
leadership, personal achievement, and respect for the outdoors --
will never change, we continue to adapt programs to prepare young
people for success in all areas of life," said BSA Chief Scout
Executive Bob Mazzuca.
For more information on BSA and a full list of the requirements to
earn the badge, visit:
http://www.boyslife.org/robotics
To view the badge, visit:
-end-
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