Rutgers Day 2023

Rutgers Robotics Workshop 2022

The annual Rutgers Robotics Workshop was held on September 30, 2022, at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. The workshop is part of the NSF National Research Traineeship SOCRATES (Socially Cognizant Robotics for a Technology Enhanced Society), PI: Kristin Dana, ECE. SOCRATES is a cross-disciplinary training program aimed at establishing methods for effective collaboration among researchers from computer science, psychology, and public-policy and planning with the goal of designing socially cognizant robotic systems. SOCRATES core faculty include Kristin Dana (ECE), Clint Andrews (Bloustein), Kostas Bekris (CS), Jacob Feldman (Psychology), Jingang YI (MAE), Pernille Hemmer (Psychology), Aaron Mazzeo (MAE), Hal Salzman (Bloustein), Matthew Stone (CS).

The Robotics Workshop is held for faculty, students, and industry representatives. Faculty and students from Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Psychology, Planning & Public Policy, and participated. Students from these departments presented posters on their research during a poster session. Undergraduate and graduate students from university as well as students from Mason School of Arts participated in the day’s activities. Industry Representatives from JP Morgan Chase, Nokia Bell Labs, SRI, and Siemens Healthineers were guest speakers and participated in panel discussions. SOCRATES faculty members also took part in a panel of discussion on the relationship of robotics to the future of work and the social impacts of the technology. The workshop wrapped up with a tour of the CS Robotics Research Lab for robot demonstrations.

Rutgers Day 2022

SOCRATES presented at Rutgers Day 2022, an in-person event for the entire NJ community. One of the largest events in the state (NJ), this celebration is a free event, which typically draws about 100,000 people, features live performances, exhibits, demonstrations and activities for all ages. More than 500 programs were planned. NRT SOCRATES trainees had a tent/table set up demonstrating robots/ robotics to the community in a fun interactive way while promoting the program.

Kristin Dana, ECE professor, participated in a video series called Faces & Voices video series with President Holloway on July 29th, at the Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering. President Holloway and Professor Dana discussed the SOCRATES robotics program and Rutgers University.

See the talk here:
https://www.rutgers.edu/faces-voices/episode-9-kristin-dana

Congratulations to our new 2021 trainees Noah Harmatz, Richard Magnotti, and Lina Moe for acceptance as our second cohort in the NSF NRT robotics traineeship!

SOCRATES NRT graduate fellow Faith Johnson’s address to US Secretary of Commerce
Original Caption: U.S. Rep. Frank Joseph Pallone, Jr. (D-6th congressional district, N.J.), left, Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway, second left, Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Tom Farris, Dean School of Engineering, watch a robotics demonstration by Rutgers student Faith Johnson during a tour of the Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering on the Busch campus of Rutgers University, Thursday, August 5, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (Photo/Mel Evans)
Faith Johnson, ECE graduate student and fellow in the SOCRATES NRT program, presented the program overview to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Congressman Frank Pallone who joined President Jonathan Holloway and Dean Thomas Farris for a tour of the engineering facilities at Richard Weeks Hall on August 5, 2021.

Congratulations to our new trainees Faith Johnson and Dan Nakhimovich for acceptance as the first cohort in the new NSF NRT robotics traineeship!