Scientists passing the torch at IHMC Summer Robotics Camp

Nicole Stafford volunteered as part of IHMC’s Summer Robotics Camp to give students something she missed as a kid.

“I did not go to a camp like this growing up and I feel like it is an excellent chance for kids to see if they like robotics and interact with scientists,” says Stafford, a mechanical engineer on the exoskeleton team at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. “(IHMC) does a great job to give kids that opportunity and it was special to be a part of.”

Stafford, who earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at Standford University and her Ph.D. at the University of Florida, was one of a handful of IHMC scientists who acted as guest lecturers at the camp, answering questions and sharing what a life in science might look like.

“Interacting with the campers through a lecture and lunch was a fantastic and fun opportunity. The campers asked some great questions related to exoskeletons and being an engineer, so it was fun to see their curiosity.”

Robotics Camp ran in three sessions in Pensacola and two sessions in Ocala this year. Participants spent four days learning to program LEGO Mindstorm robots, meeting STEM professionals and learning about robotics research at IHMC.

Camp is sponsored by the NextEra Foundation, Florida Blue and Cox. Their support helps make these camps possible and funds scholarships to cover camp fees for students from families of limited means.

Research Scientist Jared Li also was among those who took part. Li leads the Institute’s exoskeleton team.

“I find it very fulfilling to present our work to younger generations and give them a glimpse behind the scenes of tech that may seem like science fiction,” Li says. “I want them to get excited, knowing that it’s well within their reach!”

Research Scientist Toshi Miyatsu is part of the healthspan, resilience, and performance research team at IHMC. His research focuses on neuroscience and cognitive and technological tools that enhance learning, instruction, and assessment. He says lecturing to and having lunch with campers is “always the highlight of my week.”

Not only is it a chance to share science he is passionate about with curious young minds but also it is a chance to recharge his own enthusiasm.

“I always emerge from the lecture energized, reminded of how fortunate I am to study these subjects for a living,” Miyatsu says. “Over lunch, I love sharing laughs and diving into conversations that range from scientific puzzles to real-world and personal implications. These thoughtful questions often lead us to explore broader dimensions of science and society together.

“Robotics Camp is a great IHMC tradition that both inspires students and recharges scientists, and I’m proud to be part of it each year,” he said.

IHMC is a not-for-profit research institute of the Florida University System where researchers pioneer science and technology aimed at leveraging and extending human capabilities. IHMC researchers and staff collaborate extensively with the government, industry and academia to help develop breakthrough technologies. IHMC research partners have included: DARPA, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Institutes of Health, IBM, Microsoft, Honda, Boeing, Lockheed, and many others.

Published 7.16.25