AFRL Hosts Competition to Promote STEM Among Young Ohio Students

The Air Force Research Laboratory recently hosted a competition to increase awareness of STEM, aviation and aerospace among Ohio middle and high school students, ensuring the next-generation workforce is capable of addressing future defense challenges.

Brenda Ronnebaum, project manager for the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Educational Outreach Office, said that the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Tech Challenge Ohio State Championship aims to inspire young ones to consider a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by making it exciting and fun.

Held at Hobart Arena in Troy, Ohio, on March 9, the participating students designed, built and programmed robots to compete with other teams, the AFRL said.

Maj. Gen. Scott Cain, AFRL commander and a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker, said that it was amazing to see what the participants were able to produce during the competition.

The top three performing teams from the competition will participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship to be held in Houston, Texas, from April 15 to 20.

The laboratory has been collaborating with educational institutions to promote a STEM career and develop new technologies. In May 2023, AFRL and eight universities entered into an agreement to develop nanosatellites for Earth observation, communications and technology demonstration.