I recently joined local leaders – along with some very talented Columbia students – to celebrate a new youth robotics space for the Columbia Educational Robotics Foundation (CERF). I was thrilled to join Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Klein and many others to dedicate this impressive facility.

CERF’s Board of Directors is chaired by Mizzou Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Kevin Gillis, who works alongside fellow mentors to inspire interest in STEM education. CERF also organizes Columbia’s Army Ants robotics competition team. The Army Ants are part of the global FIRST Robotics program and recently finished a great competition season in the top 5% of all teams worldwide!

Mizzou’s commitment to CERF and Army Ants has taken many forms. Until this new facility, the Army Ants worked out of Mizzou’s Agricultural Engineering building for nearly a decade. The College of Engineering partners with Army Ants on STEM summer camps serving more than 100 campers and offers scholarships to FIRST Robotics students. Army Ants are also affiliated with Missouri 4-H, an MU Extension program.

The new lab and community space features leading-edge equipment and enhanced tools to help students learn more about robotics and explore their interests. It’s also an investment in the next generation (including many future Mizzou students) who will one day solve the significant challenges facing our world — in science, health, public policy and beyond.

The University of Missouri President’s Office, College of Engineering, College of Arts and Science and CAFNR were all proud to contribute toward this important facility. We joined more than 15 local and national sponsors, including Columbia Public Schools, Moberly Area Community College, Boeing and the National Science Foundation.

Robotics is a powerful vehicle through which students learn collaboration, resilience and all the life lessons we want them to carry forward. We’re proud to help prepare them for success in high-demand STEM fields that are critical to our state and nation.

— Mun