On Friday, December 15, SAR High School’s robotics teams, the Paranoid Androids on Steroids (PAOS), SAR2-D2 and Robosapiens visited the Spuyten Duyvil Library for a robotics demonstration. This was the PAOS’s third event of the season at the library themed around this year’s FIRST challenge: CENTERSTAGE. The theme, CENTERSTAGE, is about incorporating art into STEM and inspiring kids to imagine a world of endless possibilities. Previously, the PAOS taught about geometric shapes through house design and tessellations through art. The mission of a FIRST team is to inspire others in their community and to advocate for STEM opportunities for all. By arranging outreach events like these at the library, SAR students met with kids from across Riverdale to achieve this mission. The demonstration included three robots and was attended by over 50 people including kids, adults and three elected officials.

Members of the PAOS arranged for Mayor Adams, Councilman Eric Dinowitz and Assemblyman Jefferey Dinowitz to attend in order to display the impacts of FIRST on students and their communities. Mayor Adams was given the opportunity to control the robot and see it flex its muscles as it mechanically did a chin up on a small bar and lift its own weight off the ground. Earlier this year, the PAOS went to Washington, D.C. to lobby for STEM education through the ESSA and CHIPS Acts with their congressmen, governors and senators. By facilitating events and teaching at the library, the team advocates for FIRST in NYC, STEM education and city libraries. On January 14, the SAR teams will be competing in their first competition of the season.