PlantSTEM: Plant Science Based Robotics for STEM Engagement

STEM education is not limited to building knowledge related to science, technology, engineering and maths. At its core, STEM skills help children develop new ways of thinking, encouraging curiosity and analysis. Establishing these skills at an early age (infancy through 12–14 years old), when young minds are most malleable, establishes lifelong thinking skills. Robotics is probably the most spread and recognised way for an integrative approach. However, why robotics has to be always linked to mechanical component interactions and its movement? In this communication we present a prototype that can be interpreted as an alternative way to achieve such integrative STEM engagement. This is Astroplant, linked to plant science but that also integrates the STEM elements. As linked to plant Science it is expected to be better suited for women engagement promotion into engineering and STEM related fields of study.