HotPopRobot is a maker-family enterprise co-founded in 2014 by Artash (8 years), Arushi (5 years), Rati, and Vikas to bring discussions on Science, Space Exploration, Astronomy, and Technology in our everyday conversation. It encourages families, kids, and youths to become creators (and not consumers), scientists, artists, or whatever they want to be by undertaking practical projects on space, robotics, coding, and science.
We started this enterprise after winning the NASA Space Apps Toronto 2014 Award for our Mars Rover: CuriousBot. We ended up among the top 5 NASA Space Apps Winners (people’s choice) globally! We won the NASA SpaceApps Challenge Toronto again in 2019, 2018, and 2017 as well as the Canadian Space Agency’s Space Apps Challenge 2017 for our project – “Yes I Can” which used RadarSat-2 satellite data to recreate the #Canada150 logo. We ended up getting invited to the Canadian Space Agency to present our project and meet the new Canadian Astronauts. In 2020, Artash and Arushi became the Global winners of the 2020 NASA SpaceApps COVID-19 Challenge and were invited by NASA to view a spacecraft launch.
It is only when we set our vision and goals ambitious can we solve the bigger inter-generational challenges:
Are we the only ones out there in the Universe?
How to stop global heating and protect our oceans?
How to ensure modern technologies such as artificial intelligence promote social justice?
For the moment, the answer lies in opportunities we can create for the next generation to become excited about science, making things, our environment, and space exploration!
We do several outreach events every year through Maker Festivals, NASA and Canadian Space Apps Challenges, Ontario Science Centre, MakerExpo NASA Youth Space Apps Challenge, Science Rendezvous, school fairs, and community events to inspire kids and families.
Questions? Write to: vikas.nath@gmail.com
Vikas Nath is an international development expert on Environment, Technology, and Climate Change. He worked with United Nations in New York, Geneva, and Delhi and has undertaken consulting missions and speaking assignments in 65+ countries. He is an Inlaks Scholar and holds a Masters Degree in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics, UK, a Masters Degree in Environment and Forestry, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from St. Stephens College, Delhi University. India.
Follow us on Twitter @wonrobot
With Canadian Astronauts Chris Hadfield, Jeremy Hansen, Jenny Sidey and Joshua Kutryk
HotPopRobot 