Robotics & turkey 2024 Post-Conference Press Release, December 6, 2024
For Immediate Release: December 6, 2024
Robert D. Jones
Hand & Mind LLC
203-550-3051 mobile
A PARADIGM SHIFT AT ROBOTICS & TURKEY 2024, THE 3-DAY YOUTH ROBOTICS CONFERENCE IN MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA FEATURING MARINE ECOLOGY, ENGAGING FIELD TRIP & INAUGURAL PIONEER AWARD.
The international conference broadens the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline by engaging children aged 9-14 yrs. old, particularly girls and children of color.
MT. VERNON, NY December 6, 2024
An exciting field-trip, the inaugural Pioneer Award, and two highly pertinent speakers delivered a totally immersive experience and a paradigm shift at the 2nd annual Robotics & turkey (R&t) International Youth Robotics Conference that was held over the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, Thursday, Nov. 28 to Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 at the Catalonia Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
R&t 2024’s theme is 2024-25 FIRST® LEGO® League’s SUBMERGED theme: “Use creative thinking and LEGO® technology to explore the layers of the ocean and bring their learnings and ideas to the surface as students “sea” into the future.”
The 2nd annual Robotics & turkey had an in-person audience of +40 representing 12 different robotics teams from United States (5) and Jamaica (7), plus virtual participation from an American and a Nigerian team. Over half of the in-person registrants were female.
Conference participants seized the opportunity to improve their robot design and performance, receive feedback on their draft innovation project presentations, as well as snorkeling, boating, and hands-on learning during a field-trip to the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory. The paradigm shift learned by conference participants was that designing and operating robots gets you a job, while researching and pitching innovation projects develops skills for creating jobs!
R&t has tremendous growth opportunity! FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) has 45,000 teams worldwide. A FLL team delegation to R&t typically consists of a team member, their parent, and a team coach.
Robotics & turkey has been featured in Forbes and is endorsed by the Director of Admissions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The inaugural 2023 conference was a resounding success!
Finally, R&t’s organizers are planning a new STEM talent pipeline initiative called Boston College Tour (BCT), that will coincide with the 12th annual Boston JerkFest held at Harvard on Friday, July 11 & Saturday, July 12, 2025. BCT primarily targets high school students of the Caribbean diaspora and of color and will initially provide curated campus tours of Harvard, MIT, Boston University, and Northeastern universities. Stay tuned for more info.
ADDITIONAL DETAIL
Three members of Jamaica’s 2024 award-winning high school robotics team (Bronze Medalist for the Dr. Mae Jamison Award for International Unity in Athens at FIRST® Global Competition) participated in R&t 2024. They mentored and inspired the younger roboticists who attend primary, elementary and middle schools.
A conference highlight was Jamaica’s High School Robotics Team members (Abbigail Cato and Ojani Chung) meeting members of Jamaica’s Women’s Soccer Team “Reggae Girlz”, also stationed at the resort.
Here were other conference highlights by day:
Thursday
· Welcome Message read by conference founder Mr. Robert Jones from The Honourable Fayval Williams, MP, Jamaica’s new Minister of Finance and The Public Service. Minister Williams, as then Minister of Education and Youth, attended the inaugural conference in 2023, and recently succeeded The Honourable Nigel Clarke who demitted office to become Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
· The opening keynote presentation “The Power of Three, and then the Deep Sea” by Dr. Mona K. Webber, a marine biologist and Head of the Department of Life Sciences and the Grace Kennedy Foundation, James Moss Solomon Sr. Chair in Environment at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.
· Conferring of the inaugural Pioneer Award to the environmental scientist, the late Dr. Barry A. Wade O.D., B.Sc., Ph.D. (in Marine Biology), M.J.I.M. Widow, Mrs. Merle Wade, and son, Mr. Francis Wade, were emotionally moved by the in-person remarks by Mrs. Eleanor Jones and Dr. Ruth Potopsingh, all technical colleagues of Dr. Wade, and followed by video testimony from Mr. David Silvera about Dr. Wade’s fervent commitment towards protecting the human rights of all citizens. Dr. Wade was more than a scientist!
· A new post-dinner dinner session allowed participants to bond within their assigned groups, to choose names for their groups, to review videos of robot performance rounds submitted by Nigerian and American teams, and kick-start “hands-on” robot performance improvement. Chosen group names were Aquatic, W Whales, and Sub-Ventures.
Friday
· Groups reviewing and providing feedback to 4 innovation project presentation videos submitted by American and Nigerian teams.
· Day #2 keynote presentation “Journeying to Underwater Robotics” by Mr. Rayanu Adam, a 2nd year electrical engineering major and robotics minor student at Cornell University, narrating his journey to being a member of Cornell University's Autonomous Underwater Vehicle 41-person team that placed third at the 2024 RoboSub competition. Mr. Adam is a recipient of the highly selective Gates Scholarship.
A highly memorable and engaging 5-hr. field trip to the Discovery Bay Marine Lab that included handling sea cucumbers, boating, and snorkeling. This was summarized with pictures and video by each of the 3 groups during a sharing and discussion session held after dinner.
Saturday
· A diverse workshop led by Robert Jones that covered robot performance and documentation strategy for rookies, a review and analysis of top performing teams at NYC regional championship, and closed with a shared understanding amongst all conference participants that designing and operating robots gets you a job, while researching and pitching innovation projects develops skills for creating jobs!
· A fun-filled closing ceremony led by conference co-developer Ms. Lesleyann Samuel with prizes and certificates.
Five United States teams represented at 2024 Robotics & turkey were all from New York and were Cambria Warbots, Girl Scouts Troop 4760, Bronx EFKs, BBL Lions, and Denzel Washington School of the Arts ArtSonics.
Seven Jamaican robotics teams represented include New Day, Shortwood, ORCS, Beulah, and high schools Immaculate, Campion, and AISK.
Additionally, a Nigerian team, Aurora, and the New York team, KIPP All Robo-Gators, received detailed feedback on their 5 minute video presentations of their innovation project drafts.
The 501(3)(c) conference sponsors were the New York Solar Energy Society and the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc.
The 3rd annual Robotics & turkey Conference will be held Thursday, November 27 to Saturday, November 29, 2025. Go to roboticsturkey.org for more information.
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ROBOTICS & TURKEY 2024 Press Release, November 22
For Immediate Release: November 22, 2024
Robert D. Jones
Hand & Mind LLC
handmindenrichment@gmail.com
203-550-3051 mobile
ROBOTICS & TURKEY 2024 -- 3-DAY YOUTH ROBOTICS CONFERENCE IN MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA -- FEATURES FIELD TRIP TO MARINE LAB & INAUGURAL PIONEER AWARD
The international conference broadens the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline by engaging children aged 9-14 yrs. old, particularly girls and children of color.
Mt. Vernon, New York November 22, 2024
An exciting field-trip, the inaugural Pioneer Award, and two highly pertinent speakers are confirmed for the 2nd annual Robotics & turkey (R&t) International Youth Robotics Conference being held over the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, Thursday, Nov. 28 to Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 at the Catalonia Resort, Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The international conference’s audience is FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) team delegations primarily from Jamaica and the United States that consist of a team member, their parent, and a team coach.
R&t has been featured in Forbes and is endorsed by the Dean of Admissions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The inaugural 2023 conference was a resounding success!
The 2024 robotics conference’s theme is the 2024-2025 FLL’s SUBMERGED theme: “Use creative thinking and LEGO® technology to explore the layers of the ocean and bring their learnings and ideas to the surface as students “sea” into the future.”
Conference participants will engage in a variety of activities including presentation of their innovation projects, as well as snorkeling, boating, and hands-on learning during a field-trip to the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory. Nigerian teams will also virtually present their innovation projects. FLL has 45,000 teams worldwide.
A confirmed speaker is Mr. Rayanu Adam, a 2nd year electrical engineering and computer science student at Cornell University. He will narrate his experience being a member of Cornell University's Autonomous Underwater Vehicle 41-person team that placed third at the 2024 RoboSub competition. He is a recipient of the highly selective Gates Scholarship.
Dr. Mona Webber, a marine biologist and Head of the Department of Life Sciences and the Grace Kennedy Foundation, James Moss Solomon Sr. Chair in Environment at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica is also confirmed. She conducts research in Jamaica’s marine environment ranging from coastal systems ecology & rehabilitation to water quality and microplastics.
The conference will confer its first Pioneer Award to environmental scientist, the late Dr. Barry A. Wade, O.D., B.Sc., Ph.D. (in Marine Biology), M.J.I.M.
Finally, R&t’s organizers are planning a new STEM talent pipeline initiative called Boston College Tour (BCT), that will coincide with the 12th annual Boston JerkFest in July 2025. Stay tuned for more info.
Please go to roboticsturkey.org for more conference information and join our mailing list for updates.
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On Your Mark, Set, Go -R&t 2024!
Robotics & turkey is intended to help FIRST LEGO League robotics teams collaboratively improve their competitive strategy a month or two before their qualifying tournaments. How are you preparing your team to take full advantage of Robotics & turkey 2024? Let me share what I’m doing for my veteran Bronx EFKs team.
Today our team voted “Coral Bleaching” as the problem for the team’s innovation project. The current problem statement is that coral lose their color and life due to rising water temperature.
All 6 team members had 7 votes to freely allocate among 6 topics that were identified and discussed at the October 4 meeting. Coral Bleaching received 13 votes or 31% of total votes as indicated by the yellow and blue stickers.
1) What is Coral Bleaching and why is it a problem? 2) What are the existing solutions? 3) What improvements or new solutions can team members develop? Every team member must have 1 to 2 answers for the first 2 questions at the November 9th meeting. Can anyone come with answers to question #3 as well? Can our team have a draft video presentation ready of our innovation project to show speakers and audience at Robotics & turkey Conference on November 29 to get early expert feedback? https://www.roboticsturkey.org/2024speakers-1 . Should I take my own pictures of coral bleaching during the field-trip at the Discovery Bay Marine Lab?
At today’s meeting our team members were also busy with robot performance utilizing 3 robots focused on different missions.
Which of our 3 robots will generate the most points in a 2.5 minute performance round by our November 23rd meeting? I’ll display a video of that robot performance at Robotics & turkey on November 29 and gather feedback on how to improve.
FIELD TRIP & PIONEER AWARD – NEW AT ROBOTICS & TURKEY 2024
FIELD TRIP TO DISCOVERY BAY MARINE LAB AND PIONEER AWARD – NEW AT ROBOTICS & TURKEY 2024, THE 3-DAY YOUTH ROBOTICS CONFERENCE IN MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
The international conference broadens the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline by engaging children aged 9-14 yrs. old, particularly girls and children of color.
An exciting field-trip, the inaugural Pioneer Award, and two highly pertinent speakers are confirmed for the 2nd annual Robotics & turkey (R&t) Conference being held over the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, Thursday, November 28 to Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the all-inclusive Catalonia Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Conference registration will remain open until the resort reaches capacity.
The international conference’s audience is FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) team delegations primarily from Jamaica and United States that consist of a team member, their parent, and a team coach. There are 45,000 FLL teams worldwide.
R&t has been featured in Forbes and is endorsed by the Dean of Admissions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The inaugural 2023 conference was a resounding success!
The 2024 robotics conference’s theme is the 2024-2025 FLL’s SUBMERGED theme: “Use creative thinking and LEGO® technology to explore the layers of the ocean and bring their learnings and ideas to the surface as students “sea” into the future.”
Conference participants will engage in snorkeling, scuba diving, and hands-on learning during a field-trip to the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory.
A confirmed speaker is Mr. Rayanu Adam, a 2nd year electrical engineering and computer science undergraduate student at Cornell University. He will narrate his experience being a member of Cornell University's Autonomous Underwater Vehicle 41-person team that competed August 2024 in the RoboSub competition in Irvine, California. Mr. Adam is a recipient of The Gates Scholarship and is a 2022 alumnus of MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES).
Another confirmed speaker is Dr. Mona Webber, a marine biologist and Head of the Department of Life Sciences and the Grace Kennedy Foundation, James Moss Solomon Sr. Chair in Environment at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. She conducts research in Jamaica’s marine environment ranging from coastal systems ecology & rehabilitation to water quality and microplastics.
Finally, the conference will confer its first Pioneer Award. The recipient is environmental scientist, the late Dr. Barry A. Wade, O.D., B.Sc., Ph.D. (in Marine Biology), M.J.I.M.
Please go to roboticsturkey.org for more conference information and join our mailing list for updates.
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2024 Commemorative Journal
Dear Family, Friends and Supporters,
U.S. and Jamaican delegations are preparing for the 2nd. annual Robotics & turkey Conference being held over the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, Thursday, November 28 to Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the all-inclusive Catalonia Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The international conference’s audience is FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team delegations primarily from Jamaica and United States that consist of a team member, their parent, and a team coach. There are 45,000 FLL teams worldwide.
To mark the occasion, we will be publishing a commemorative journal that will include our program, biographies of our presenters, and messages or ads from you – our family, friends and supporters. Please join us in celebrating this annual event, and lend your support by advertising your business, giving a ‘shout out’ to a FIRST LEGO League Team, share your contact info via Business Card, or provide a short message. We’ve created a Journal Contract to facilitate your support. Please note that our deadline for your AD is Monday, November 11, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact us: Robert Jones (203) 550-3051 or Arlene Willis (754) 610-5960.
You will, of course, receive a final copy of our 2024 journal. For reference, here is a link to our 2023 commemorative journal: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/7ed94f97fe.html . The inaugural 2023 conference was a resounding success. https://youtu.be/wK752zaNi70
Thank you in advance for your support!
Robotics & turkey International Youth Robotics Conference Team 2024
Stay in touch – Subscribe to our Website: https://www.roboticsturkey.org/
2024 Pioneer Award Recipient - Dr. Barry A. Wade
We are pleased to announce that our first Pioneer Award Recipient is environmental scientist, the late Dr. Barry A. Wade, O.D., B.Sc., Ph.D. (in Marine Biology), M.J.I.M. His family will be present at our 2024 conference to receive the award. Please click here for more information on Dr. Wade.
Testimonials at Virtual Fundraiser
The Robotics & turkey 2024 Virtual Fundraiser, held on September 18th, totally engaged donors, robotics team members, parents, and coaches in a lively 1-hour program. The fundraiser’s purpose was to subsidize travel for team delegations to the international youth robotics conference over the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Here are the compelling testimonials by team members aged 9-14 years old and coaches, and video previews of our conference speakers. Enjoy!
This year's conference participants will engage in snorkeling, scuba diving, and hands-on learning during an exciting field-trip to the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory! https://www.roboticsturkey.org/
To Contribute Via Zelle:
Zelle to Robert Jones at 203-550-3051 with memo “Robotics & turkey – NYSES”.
Via email to handmindenrichment@gmail.com, please provide your name(s) and address to receive an emailed receipt on behalf of the 501(3)© New York Solar Energy Society.
To Contribute Via Check:
Mail a check payable to either of our 501(3)© fiscal sponsors "New York Solar Energy Society" or "Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc.“
Put "Robotics & turkey" on the memo line and mail the check to Hand & Mind LLC, 90 Rockledge Avenue, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550.
Contributions payable to UJAA have the additional benefit of 10% going towards a non-profit organization currently raising funds to send a Jamaican national robotics team of high school students to the FIRST Global Competition in Greece in late September 2024.
1 Hr. Virtual Fundraiser: Wed, Sept 18, 4pm (NYC time)
Everyone is invited!
Topic: 1 Hr. Virtual Fundraiser for Robotics & turkey 2024!
Time: Sep 18, 2024 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 879 7333 9929
Passcode: 869072
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Room and Conference Registrations Are Now Open!
The 2nd annual Robotics & turkey Conference is being held over the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, Thursday, November 28 to Saturday, November 30, 2024 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The Robotics & turkey 2024 conference registration cost is $60/person by September 30 ($100 after), with separate transportation, lodging, and meal (TLM) cost of at least $1,020 per person double occupancy from New York City. Jamaica-based participants will incur TLM cost of $250 per person double occupancy. Maximum of 3 adults in a room or 2 adults and 2 children up to 11 years old. Children under 6 years old stay free. Click here to register.
Students and parents that participate in our fundraiser(s) will qualify for a TLM subsidy. Our next 2024 fundraiser is on September 18 (virtual). Payment of the TLM subsidy will occur soon after proof of room and/or airfare booking is provided.
Submerged Summer Robotics Fundraiser
Submerged” Summer Robotics Fundraiser at NY Solar Energy Society President Wyldon Fishman’s residence on August 14, 2024 was colorful and engaging.
Rayanu Adam gave a “teaser” presentation on his Cornell University Autonomous Underwater Vehicle team’s 3rd place finish at RoboSub 2024 competition the prior week in Irvine, California.
Union of Jamaican Alumni Association (USA) Inc.’s Lesleyann Samuel, Evelyn Godden, and Karlene Largie provided updates on the vibrancy of robotics within Jamaican schools.
NVIDIA’s Camir Ricketts engaged students Alexander Lowe, Alexander Jones, Davia Richardson, and others with the professional networking opportunities provided by his MindsOf Initiatives.
The fundraiser subsidizes delegate travel to Robotics & turkey 2024 Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The international conference broadens the STEM talent pipeline by engaging children aged 9-14 yrs. old, particularly girls and children of color. Total attendance cost is about $1,300 for a US-based delegate and $330 for a Jamaican-based delegate.
To make a donation via check or Zelle, please see the instructions below:
To Contribute Via Check:
•Mail a check payable to either of our 501(3)© fiscal sponsors "New York Solar Energy Society" or "Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc.“
•Put "Robotics & turkey" on the memo line and mail the check to Hand & Mind LLC, 90 Rockledge Avenue, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550.
•Contributions payable to UJAA have the additional benefit of 10% going towards a non-profit organization currently raising funds to send a Jamaican national robotics team of high school students to the FIRST Global Competition in Greece in late September 2024.
To Contribute Via Zelle:
•Zelle to Robert Jones at 203-550-3051 with memo “Robotics & turkey – NYSES”.
•Via email to handmindenrichment@gmail.com, please provide your name(s) and address to receive an emailed receipt on behalf of the 501(3)© New York Solar Energy Society.