A day of innovation, teamwork, and STEM spirit

"We are so happy to have you here, and we hope to do more with New York City schools and our partners to share and promote our love of STEM,” said Dean Chang. “Columbia Engineering has a long history of supporting FIRST Robotics teams with mentors–we have hosted the FIRST Robotics kickoff for multiple years and plan to do so again in 2026.” 

Dean Chang also noted that more than 40 students from the Engineering School had signed up to volunteer. “Many of our engineering students are FIRST alumni, as well. They have personally benefited from this program and they know the impact being on a robotics team in middle or high school can have on a young person's life.”

“Today’s competition is more than just a contest. It is a testament to the dedication, the creativity, and the hard work of each and every one of you,” said Ray while addressing the students. “The innovation and approaches you took to source materials and build your projects were truly remarkable – it’s very inspiring.”

To win the robot challenge, alliances of two teams would compete against another alliance–and challenge their robots with a series of tasks, from collecting blocks and disposing them in the team’s bucket, or retrieving hooked blocks to hang in the middle of the arena. The Mayor’s Cup came to an exciting conclusion when the last two teams of alliances competed for first place. Teams Saturn and Mercury, an alliance team took home the first place trophy. Both teams were made up of students from the Staten Island Technical High School. 

Image

Robotics demos and campus exploration

In addition to the full day of competitions, Columbia Engineering faculty members presented a series of robotics demos. Highlights included demonstrations from Hod Lipson’s Creative Machines Lab, Sunil Agrawal’s ROAR Lab, Yunzhu Li’s RoboPI Lab, and Matei Ciocarlie’s ROAM Lab. The School’s Office of Outreach also showcased a creation from their flagship program SHAPE (Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers), a summer program that offers college-level courses taught by Columbia faculty. 

Additional demos were showcased by student groups representing the Engineering School, including Columbia Space Initiative, Columbia Robotics Club, Biomedical Engineering Society, and Columbia University Formula Racing. High school students participating in the competition also had a chance to tour the School and learn more about student clubs from Columbia students who shared demos of their past work.

“Thank you to the students for really putting in the effort to make this day a reality,” said Zigman at the competition. “Many of you will go on to careers in STEM, but for those of you who don’t, you’re going to be incredibly successful because of the mindset and skills you’ve learned that will serve you well in anything you choose.”

Lead Photo Credit: Diane Bondareff/Columbia Engineering

Recognizing the importance of open conversations about career journeys, Columbia Engineering Dean Shih-Fu Chang and Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong, both joined the event; Dean Chang gave introductory remarks and President Armstrong kicked off the discussion and shared her own experience as a woman in STEM. 

Armstrong talked about her unconventional career path– from studying architecture as an undergraduate to completing medical school and ultimately rising through the ranks in higher education in leadership roles at the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, and now, at Columbia. She encouraged attendees to regularly check in with themselves, emphasizing the importance of making changes before reaching burnout. She also highlighted the value of finding what works for each individual. She shared a personal anecdote about how she became known for letting her kids sleep in their school clothes instead of pajamas—a simple adjustment that made hectic mornings a little easier.

“The best advice I ever received was to be yourself because you're not going to change who you are,” Armstrong said. “And if you try to be somebody else, you're going to be so much less effective than just being who you are.”

Building connections

The second half of the event consisted of breakout sessions between small groups of students and women faculty members from across Columbia. With cups of coffee in hand, students and professors–women in STEM– exchanged stories, laughter, and insights. 

A common theme professors shared with students was the importance of advocating for yourself and pursuing what you're passionate about. University Professor and Mikati Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic emphasized that when you truly love what you do, it never feels like work—even when challenges arise. Christine Hendon, associate professor of electrical engineering, encouraged students to believe in themselves, even when others doubt their ideas. 

"If someone says it won’t work, figure it out, run some simulations, test for tolerance analysis, and if it looks feasible—go for it," Hendon said. "When you finally get to the point where it works, it’s the best feeling ever.”

In this relaxed setting, conversations flowed and what started as casual chats soon turned into meaningful discussions about careers, research, and personal experiences. 

“This event showcases the magic of Columbia,” said Githika, “and how there is a community that wants to not just collaborate with each other, but grow with each other.”

Lead Photo Caption: Columbia faculty, students and staff gathered in Carleton Commons March 7 for a special networking opportunity for women in STEM. 
Lead Photo Credit: Diane Bondareff/Columbia University