Google, the world’s leading internet company, is marking its 25th anniversary by giving back to the communities it calls home. The company announced on Tuesday that it will provide a total of $10 million in grants to two nonprofit organizations that promote robotics education for middle school students in the U.S.
The grants will go to For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) and the REC Foundation (RECF), which run robotics competitions and programs that introduce students to the latest technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.
The grants will help 300,000 U.S. middle schoolers participate in robotics programs, including in every state where Google has an office or data center. The grants will also support efforts to reach students who have traditionally lacked access to robotics education, such as those in rural areas, students of color or non-native English speakers.
Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai said that the grants are inspired by the company’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who created Google by exploring the possibilities of the internet, the most advanced technology of their time. He said that by supporting the next generation of curious minds, Google hopes to foster a culture of creative problem solving, communication and teamwork that will help them succeed in any field.
Pichai also shared his personal experience of bringing his daughter Jaelyn and her classmates from Oakland, California to Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs, a facility that helps young people “think like an engineer” through hands-on play with build-it-yourself STEM toys. He said that he was impressed by how the kids learned to use AI to engineer better robots, and how they developed a sense of curiosity and confidence.
Google has a long history of supporting robotics education, as many of its employees are passionate about the field. Over the years, Googlers have volunteered more than 22,000 hours of time to youth robotics nonprofits, created robotics-focused programs specifically designed for girls, and lent their technical knowledge to help youth robotics teams build out new programming. And this month, Google is hosting dozens of volunteer events and inviting its employees to lend a hand with local clubs.
Google’s announcement was welcomed by FIRST and the RECF, which thanked the company for its generosity and vision. They said that the grants will make a significant impact on their mission to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers and become leaders and innovators. They also encouraged anyone who is interested in robotics to join or start a team in their area.
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