With support from PPG’s community engagement program, nearly 600 students across Spain are flexing their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) muscles and strengthening their STEM skills. Most recently, our community engagement efforts helped fund the popular Desafío ASTI Robotics Challenge, a national competition in which teams of students design, build and program a robot that can successfully navigate a range of obstacles. The competition attracts students from middle school through the university level.
Robotics challenge in Spain inspires youth to innovate, create
The event, organized by ASTI Foundation, helps students develop their programming, project management, entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity skills. This year, PPG served as one of just four Strategic Partners for the competition. In addition, Alberto Palomo, plant manager, Valladolid, helped judge and evaluate projects submitted by technical course and university students, and other members of our team attended media and other competition-related events.
"The values of the ASTI Foundation and the methodology of the ASTI Robotics Challenge mirror our own strategy to innovate, create and solve,” Palomo said. “That’s why we were so excited to contribute to this project and give young people the opportunity to put their learning into practice.”
The nine-month competition adhered to strict coronavirus safety protocols. With the exception of the final round of competition, all challenges and events were held virtually. In addition to Palomo, PPG representatives included Carina Gomes, communications and community engagement specialist, Portugal and Spain; Enriqueta Garcia, manager, environment, health and safety, Valladolid; and Antonia Carrera, engineering coordinator, Valladolid.
PPG has supported the ASTI Foundation and its commitment to STEM education in Spain since 2018, and currently serves as a Strategic Partner for STEM Talent Girl, a multi-pronged initiative that promotes STEM and STEM careers to girls and young women.