WHEREAS, it is desirable for the State to promote technology within the State; and

WHEREAS, robotics engineering is a desirable industry within the State; and

WHEREAS, robotics education provides a vehicle to engage students in the meaningful application of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while also helping and challenging them to learn to design and develop original solutions for each problem presented; and

WHEREAS, a robotics based educational curriculum has numerous applications in a broad array of subject areas including agriculture, alternative or renewable energy, aquaculture, astronomy, biology, communications, computer sciences, environmental studies, geography, geology, and chemistry; and

WHEREAS, six Hawaii high schools have been competing in and have won regional and national recognition for the students' work at the For Inspiration and Recognition of Technology robotics tournaments held each spring at several regional and national tournaments; and

WHEREAS, twenty-three Hawaii middle and high schools competed in March 2004 in the first Hawaii Botball Robotics Tournament, which was one of twelve regional tournaments held nationwide and was sponsored by the Hawaii Space Grant Consortium, College of Engineering of the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Convention Center, NASA Automation, Robotics, and Simulation Division, KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, and Hawaiian Electric Company; and

WHEREAS, robotics education programs can catalyze student interest during elementary and secondary school and lead students to seek higher education to pursue a variety of technology and engineering careers; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that the University of Hawaii is requested to report to the Legislature on the feasibility of having a paid robotics education coordinator within the University of Hawaii to coordinate robotics education among the University, Department of Education, private schools, and other agencies and organizations in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President and the Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Robotics Education Coordinator