MAR-RET Objectives

The objectives of the MAR-RET site funded by National Science Foundation are: 

1. To increase teacher participants’ knowledge of modern robotics and autonomy as the new industrial revolution.
2. To impact/revamp 9-12 and community college STEM curriculum using modern robotics through curriculum development and direct engagement with CSM faculty and students.
3. To create a lasting pipeline for modern robotics education and workforce development actively engaged with industry in the Denver metro area.

The funding will pay ten selected high school or community college educators who currently teach STEM subjects to participate in a six-week summer 2025 program and for implementation of developed learning modules during the following academic year. 

Ten Selected Program Participants will: 

• Receive a $6,000 stipend (paid at end of program). 

• Receive a modern robot platform to implement developed instructional module during the following academic year.    

• Engage in a research project with faculty mentors and graduate students. 

• Attend research presentations, curriculum development workshops, and industry tours. 

• Develop an instructional module to teach a topic related to their research.

Program Participant Eligibility & Requirements 

• Educators currently teaching high school or community college STEM subjects. 

• Available and willing to commit to six weeks from June 9 – July 25, 2025 (excluding the July 4th week): 

• • Monday – Friday, 9 am-3:30 pm on campus at Colorado School of Mines 

• Committed to implementing the instructional module during the following academic year. 

• Completed application using the link above (including required supporting documents) 
   

• • Resume/CV 

• • Two letters of reference 

Other Considerations 

• Educators teaching STEM subjects at high schools or community colleges in marginalized communities. 

• High school or community college Educators teaching STEM subjects to marginalized students. 

• Marginalized high school or community college educators teaching STEM subjects. 

• Eligible to work in the U.S. 

Program Selection Process: 

• The RET team will review application materials to determine the qualified applicants. 

• The RET team will conduct a phone interview with selected qualified applicants. 

• The applicants will be evaluated based on program requirements and criteria. 

• Applicants are to be notified by March 25, 2025 

What topics will be covered? 

Example topics include: 

• Perception module for color tracking, object tracking, face recognition; this includes camera-based and lidar-based 

• Speech analysis and communication module for voice control, speech recognition 

• Autonomous navigation – simultaneously localization and mapping for autonomous navigation 

Autonomous Car