DOE Robotics Alliance

[Nate Laverdure]

I believe that the following teams are mentored or sponsored in some way by representatives of one of the Department of Energy's 17 National Laboratories:

• Los Alamos National Lab: 4153
• Oak Ridge National Lab: 3824, 4265, 2393, 3140, 1466, 4025, 3966, 3675
• Pacific Northwest National Lab: 3826
• Princeton Plasma Physics Lab: 1923
• Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility: 122, 2363, 4394
• Others I've surely missed

To these team leaders: let's work together.

I want us to use our collective resources to bring together the various DOE sponsors of FIRST to compare notes and coordinate efforts. Together we can encourage more active and meaningful DOE participation in FIRST, starting with spurring new sponsorship and mentorship activity at the 12 labs not listed above.

I have a couple longer-term goals, too. Among other things, I want us to lobby for:

• The creation of a unified FRC grant program akin to the NASA Robotics Alliance Project.
• The installation of FIRST as the DOE's flagship effort for collaborative community outreach and STEM education.

Your thoughts?
Nate