This month’s Five Questions Interview features ARM Member Michel Conklin, Executive Director of BotsIQ! In addition to being a member, BotsIQ is also an ARM Institute Endorsed Training Program. ARM Endorsement means that BotsIQ is proven to give students the skills they need for a robotics career in manufacturing.
Get to know Michel, her career journey, how BotsIQ empowers teachers and students alike, and more in the interview below!
1. We always like to start our interviews by exploring how experts in the ARM Membership became interested in robotics and manufacturing. Can you tell us what sparked your interest in this area, help us understand your journey to your role at BotsIQ, and explain what BotsIQ does?
Growing up, I was always fascinated with science and technology. My grandma called me her “little engineer” because I would eagerly attempt to repair anything that broke around her house, exhibiting patience and determination to get it right. As a little girl, I would laugh off her comments, not fully understanding the compliment or the potential future that she saw in me.
Instead, I pursued an undergraduate degree is health sciences and a master’s in education, with a focus in science. After 12 years of teaching, I left the classroom to focus on raising my family. Once my sons started attending school full time, I discovered BotsIQ. The world of workforce development was new to me, but its principles closely matched my educational philosophy and pedagogy.
BotsIQ is a youth workforce development program of the Pittsburgh Chapter National Tooling & Machining Association. It connects students to future careers in manufacturing and robotics. Often, education fails to link students (and teachers) to these opportunities, limiting awareness to traditional careers or those familiar through family and friends. As a result, many students choose career paths based on surveys or internet research. BotsIQ aims to change this by offering hands-on activities, project-based learning, company tours, job shadows, and internships, helping students discover the wide range of careers in manufacturing and the various pathways to enter the industry.
Since assuming this role nearly eight years ago, I’ve embraced the idea that “students cannot be what they cannot see.” Despite my grandma’s frequent calling me an engineer, I couldn’t envision myself as one because I didn’t fully grasp what the term and career entailed. At BotsIQ, we strive daily to tackle this issue, ensuring that all students have the chance to explore the world of manufacturing.
2. BotsIQ is an ARM Institute Endorsed Training Program. Can you tell us what it was like going through the Endorsement process and what value you have found in ARM Endorsement?
When the ARM Institute introduced its Endorsement program, it was important to me that we obtain this acknowledgement for BotsIQ’s Robotics Technician Pre-Apprenticeship. Being endorsed signals that our program meets the high standards set by industry experts, thereby increasing our reputation and credibility. It shows that our students are learning the most relevant and in-demand skills needed in advanced manufacturing and robotics. BotsIQ is honored to receive this Endorsement and is especially grateful to our auditor, Maureen Bertocci, who supported us through the application process.
3. Something we’re hearing over and over again is the need to empower teachers and instructors at all age levels to spark students’ interest in manufacturing careers using robotics. BotsIQ has made extraordinary impact in this area. Can you tell us how you empower teachers who may not know much about robotics initially to begin teaching robotics concepts?
Teachers play an essential role in the development of a child, a fact that is widely acknowledged by educators and often the motivation behind their career choice. However, one area often overlooked is the impact a teacher can have through the extracurricular content that they select. Many teachers mistakenly believe that robotics is only for a technology classroom and are unaware of how they can incorporate it into their curriculum. BotsIQ works to change this. We partner with educators of all levels and subject areas, helping them to understand that you can incorporate robotics into any classroom, and we provide a range of professional development workshops to help grow their confidence. From basic activities that introduce simple inputs and outputs to advanced trainings on creating power or drive systems, our goal is to empower teachers to successfully incorporate robotics into their classrooms, thereby reaching and inspiring more students.
4. Of course, that last question also brings up your program that was developed jointly with the ARM Institute. Can you tell us more about RoboRecharge and the impact the program has had in the Pittsburgh region?
BotsIQ was honored to partner with the ARM Institute and its Manufacturing USA Institute partners to develop and launch RoboRecharge, a project-based learning program that blends entrepreneurship with robotics. Through RoboRecharge, students work in small groups to identify a problem in their world, conceptualize a robotic solution, build a business model, and create and pitch their idea to a panel of “sharks.” Because it also includes research, math, critical thinking, public speaking, marketing, and communications, it is adaptable for any teacher to incorporate into their classroom. Since September, more than 330 students have participated in RoboRecharge, showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills.
5. We would be remiss if we didn’t ask you about your recent ‘Burgh Bash Invitational Competition. Can you tell us about how this competition shows students how they can transfer concepts from robotics competitions into a career?
For the second year, BotsIQ hosted a national combat robotic competition, bringing top teams from across the country to Robert Morris University. This event is much more than battling robots, it’s a way to excite and motivate students to gain in-demand technical skills needed in manufacturing. Teams have been working since September, following our technical requirements, to research, design, machine, solder, and assemble their 15-lb combat robots, all for a chance to destroy it in the arena. But it is in the repairing that these students really learn. Limited to the tools and equipment that they bring with them, the students race the clock to repair their bot and return for their next battle. It’s not uncommon to see teams working together, students sharing resources or knowledge, to help another team be successful.
BotsIQ takes this combat robotics experience and relates it to the real world. We help students, teachers, and parents understand the magnitude of the knowledge that is gained and identify careers that align with these skills. This is done through company tours that the students attend earlier In the year, through mentorship with industry partners, and with conversations with volunteers who support the competition. BotsIQ plays a role in making these connections.
6. Bonus Question: What else would you like our readers to know about BotsIQ?
Join us in shaping the future of manufacturing! As BotsIQ celebrates 20 years of inspiring and educating students, we invite you to be part of our mission. Whether you’re an educator, industry professional, or simply passionate about STEM education, your support can make a difference. Volunteer, mentor, or donate to help us continue empowering the next generation of innovators. Let’s work together to bridge the skills gap and create endless opportunities for students in manufacturing. Get involved with BotsIQ today! Visit www.botsiqpa.org for more information.
Join BotsIQ and our other 400+ member organizations in building the future of U.S. manufacturing
Leveraging our member consortium of 400+ organizations spanning industry, government, and academia, the ARM Institute leads a way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to develop and produce the world’s most desired products. We do this by fostering collaboration across our membership, catalyzing robotics and AI projects to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, and empowering the U.S. manufacturing workforce through national solutions, including RoboticsCareer.org.
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About the ARM Institute
The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004 and is part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of over 400 consortium members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience. Based in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017, with a regional office in St. Petersburg, FL, the ARM Institute is leading the way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products. For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and X(Twitter).