Encouraging Innovation in Engineering and Science Education
National Instruments supports education initiatives that make it possible for students to engage in hands-on learning activities around the globe. NI focuses its support on multiyear, multifaceted initiatives, for which corporate donations, R&D investment, and in-kind product gifts can have the biggest impact. NI offices throughout the world also donate generously to support education in their local communities.
Year in Review
2011 Highlights
Donated LabVIEW for LEGO® MINDSTORMS® software to 2,016 FIRST Tech Challenge teams
Designated more than 70% of corporate donations to engineering and science education efforts
2011 Challenges
Reduced education budgets due for global economic downturn
Rapid technology obsolescence makes it challenging for classrooms to invest in new tools
2012 Commitments
Continue to dedicate 70% of corporate philanthropy to engineering and science education efforts
Continue to invest in and increase support of worldwide competitions that encourage students to become engineers and scientists
2011 Data and Results
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS, and WEDO are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2012 The LEGO Group.
FIRST Robotics Competitions.
Hannah Wade
Academic Field Engineer, NI UK
Hannah has been involved with Formula Student UK since 2008. The NI UK typically supports around 15 Formula Student teams through subsidized software and hardware packages, but in 2011 Hannah worked directly with six teams because she wants students to be successful not only with NI products but also with their projects as a whole. Specifically, she worked with teams when they needed help with their measurement or data-logging applications. She ran hands-on sessions and training courses, worked one-on-one with teams on specific programming tasks, and visited the teams about once a month to help with any problem areas.