Budding engineers attend computer science education week workshops

Both sessions provided a hands-on learning opportunity that featured the coding and design engineering inside Dyson’s new autonomous, connected robot vacuum—the Dyson 360 Eye™.

The workshops, which were attended by 35 teenagers, used the Dyson 360 Eye™ to help attendees discover how engineering and coding can be used to solve everyday problems. After a hands-on examination of the robot, participants were challenged to develop an invention and build a cardboard prototype that uses engineering and coding to solve a problem in their community.Some of the products teens designed included a portable solar-powered phone charger, a smart fruit drawer that lets the user know when his or her fruit will expire via an app, and a heating system that can be sewn into a jacket, complete with an app-controlled thermostat.

“Our libraries serve as a space for teens to stay engaged and benefit from STEM-based learning initiatives and mentorship,” said Jeremy Dunn, Chicago Public Library Teen Services Director. “We’re grateful to the Dyson Foundation for offering a unique opportunity for our teens.” The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job market for both engineers and computer scientists will continue to grow over the next decade; however, there are not enough students pursuing degrees in these fields to meet this demand. Founded as Dyson’s charitable arm, the James Dyson Foundation is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of engineers through free resources and workshops for schools.