Grant-Funded Project Gives Students Access to STEM Concepts Through Robotics

The NC State College of Education is hoping to spark more student interest in STEM disciplines through a grant-funded project that will help create and expand after school makerspace clubs focused on robotics in the Piedmont Unifour region. Middle and high school students will have the opportunity to explore robotics through the $177,500 Burroughs Wellcome Foundation grant-funded Programmed Robotics in the After-School Makerspace: A Four County Initiative project. The three-year initiative will build upon a previous makerspace project Principal Investigator Kevin Oliver, Ph.D., professor of learning design and technology, conducted at Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy. It will also draw from a similar ongoing project at Newton-Conover Middle School from co-principal investigator Regina Barrier, Northwestern Satellite Office director for the NC State College of Science’s Science House. Parks Newby, teaching assistant professor of STEM education, will also serve as a co-principal investigator on the project.

Spotlight

Other News
Engineering Tech, Construction

Comfort Systems USA Announces Acquisition

Business Wire | February 01, 2024

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. today announced that it has closed its previously announced transaction to acquire Summit Industrial Construction, LLC (“Summit”) headquartered in Houston, Texas. As previously disclosed, Summit is a specialty industrial mechanical contractor offering engineering, design-assist and turnkey, direct hire construction services of modular systems serving the advanced technology, power, and industrial sectors. Summit’s capabilities encompass a wide range of modular and site-based construction, including process piping, equipment setting, large pipe rack trestles, and related steel erection and specialty concrete work. Summit is a trusted supplier to some of the world’s largest advanced technology, power and industrial companies and is currently deployed on several major chip fabrication projects. Initially, Summit is expected to contribute annualized revenues of approximately $375 million to $400 million, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $35 million to $40 million. In light of the amortization expense, Summit is expected to make a neutral to slightly accretive contribution to earnings per share in 2024 and 2025. Brian Lane, Comfort Systems USA’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are delighted to announce the closing of our agreement to acquire Summit, an extremely capable provider of modular and other complex mechanical services. Summit brings a stellar reputation as a modular technology leader in growing end markets, including multiple ongoing and large semiconductor projects. We are happy to welcome Summit’s wonderful leadership team and excellent production and craft workers across many states, and we are confident Summit will continue to innovate and grow as a part of our network of world-class contracting companies. We are grateful that Summit has chosen to become part of Comfort Systems USA.”

Read More

Spotlight

Resources