Current Robotics Outreach Events
Being enthusiastic for outreach is a core Michigan Robotics value. Our outreach efforts build for and inspire the next generation of roboticists, inform policies that benefit society, and foster public understanding of where robotics is as a field.
Enthusiastic outreach takes many forms, from contributing open-source code to engaging at large-scale educational events, volunteering at FIRST Robotics competitions, leading activities for K-12 students, or working with partners across industry and community organizations.
Below are current outreach events submitted by Robotics faculty, staff, and student members. If you are interested in volunteering, you can reach out through the "How to sign up as a volunteer" links provided.
Are you a student, faculty or staff looking to add an event? You can fill out this form to add an event to this table.
Upcoming events
Search to find events that match your interests by event name, event description, location, or point of contact.
| Event Name ↕ | Event Description ↕ | Start Date ↕ | End Date ↕ | Location ↕ | Event Point of Contact ↕ | Looking for Volunteers? ↕ | Number of Volunteer(s) ↕ | Volunteer Tasks | How to sign up as a Volunteer | Robotics Lab/Organization Affiliation ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future Ready Scholars FRB Visit | Rising high school seniors, part of college-preparation program Future Ready Scholars. (click to expand) | 07/13/2026 4:00 PM | 07/13/2026 5:30 PM | FRB Atrium and Classroom | Shambhavi Singh | Yes | 5 | Volunteers are needed for hosting planned activities for group of school kids and give demos of the Unitree robot dog and Mbot as a part of a tour of the building. | https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdS2tQ02DYO5NbZQH2jZfu81J65JRxyojqxkbU_Klv1HcGR5A/viewform | Robotics Graduate Student Council |
| Engage Detroit Day 1 | Engage Detroit is an event hosted at the UM Detroit Center (click to expand) | 06/22/2026 8:00 AM | 06/22/2026 5:00 PM | UM Detroit Center | Ted Ivanac or Shambhavi Singh | Yes | 9 | Help run the Socially Engaged Design and Controlling Robots learning activities for high school students. Volunteers can help with both activities all day or one activity in either the morning or afternoon. | Contact eivanac@umich.edu or shasingh@umich.edu | Stirling Research Group |
| Engage Detroit Day 2 | STEM summer workshop for high school students. (click to expand) | 06/26/2026 8:00 AM | 06/26/2026 5:00 PM | UM Detroit Center | Ted Ivanac or Shambhavi Singh | Yes | 9 | Help run the Socially Engaged Design and Controlling Robots learning activities for high school students. Volunteers can help with both activities all day or one activity in either the morning or afternoon. | Contact eivanac@umich.edu or shasingh@umich.edu | Striling Research Group |
| Wolverine Robotics Competition 2026 | The Wolverine Robotics Competition (WRC) is an FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) offseason event hosted by FAMNM (FIRST Alumni & Mentors Network at Michigan) at Skyline High School in Ann Arbor. The event features a full competition day with qualification matches, double-elimination playoffs, and judged awards. FRC teams from across Michigan will compete. We are still actively seeking volunteers, especially judges, field reset crew, and queuers. Setup occurs on Friday evening; competition runs all day Saturday. (click to expand) | 07/31/2026 2:00 PM | 08/01/2026 8:00 PM | Skyline High School, 2552 N Maple Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 | Brandon McDonald | Yes | 20 | Judges (for awards deliberation and team interviews), field reset crew (resetting game pieces and field elements between matches), and queuers (managing team queuing lanes and match flow). General field support roles also available. | https://forms.gle/uPoxCGNvE4oMQ5Wr5 | FIRST Alumni & Mentors Network at Michigan (FAMNM) |
Robotics Outreach Ambassador program
The Robotics Department formally recognizes student efforts in outreach. To do so, we track outreach for which you can be awarded a special title each year, one we hope students will be proud to highlight on resumés and talk about when transitioning to the next step in your life.
If a student logs eight hours of outreach in the year, from start of summer to end of winter terms, then they will be awarded the title of Robotics Outreach Ambassador for that year. Those earning this title will be announced and celebrated in the spring.
What counts? Any service, outreach, or community activity that supports the mission, culture, and values of the Robotics Department can be reported. We'll trust your judgment.
Student contributions in outreach are instrumental to our success. We hope to adapt and build on this in the future with your continued input.
