The Robotics Institute Summer Scholars (RISS) from Carnegie Mellon University recently joined RiverQuest for an afternoon on board Explorer. Designed to introduce aspiring international students to dynamic research resources, RISS is partnering with RiverQuest and a robotic airboat project lead by CMU Robotics Institute Professor Paul Scerri to provide a field experience to the scholars.  Another product of the RISS project is curriculum provided to RiverQuest for use with robotic airboats in special projects with future school student groups.

RISS also hosted a session with RiverQuest's Bayer International Sustainability Camp. The Bayer Camp students learned about robotic projects in development to improve how humans interact with their environment. A fascinating demo involved a robotic "snake," designed to go into small spaces to investigate and collect information.  For more information about The Robotics Institute Summer Scholars program, visit www.ri.cmu.edu and click on Academic Internships.

Thanks so much to everyone who attended and supported RiverFest last month at the Fox Chapel Yacht Club.  We're looking forward to next year's celebration. Here's a picture of our RiverQuest Award Winners for 2013 -- Congratulations to all!

Students:

• Payton Miller, Beaver Falls High School
• Giovanna Tatananni and Colin Aikins, Mary Queen of Apostles School
• Britton Mills, Hampton High School
• Nicholas Grice, McKeesport Area High School
• Floretta Chambers, Carmichaels Area High School
• Olivia Vixman, Woodland Hills Academy
• Michael Yakich, Hampton Middle School

Educators:

• Elizabeth Killmeyer, St. Bede School, Diocese of Pittsburgh Schools
• Connie Kocis, Jefferson Elementary School, West Jefferson Hills School District
• Ellen Wright, Pittsburgh Perry HIgh School, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Bayer's international Sustainability Camp completes 6th year in Pittsburgh, PA

Bayer Camp students ready for a canoe trip and eco-study on the Kiskiminetas River. 

Sixteen teenagers met in Pittsburgh for a whirlwind two weeks of activities, all with the underlying themes of science and sustainability.  Bayer Sustainability Camp, operated by RiverQuest in Pittsburgh this summer for the sixth consecutive year, is a competitive entry international academic camp for high school students who represent different areas of the world where Bayer has a corporate presence. 

In addition to Pittsburgh, this year's American students represented Kansas, North Carolina, West Virginia and New Jersey. Nine international students represented a variety of German cities from Berlin to Brunsbüttel, and one student hailed from Thailand. The camp is supported by Bayer USA Foundation and Bayer Science & Education Foundation.  For more information, click here.