In July of 2019, students from South Eugene Robotics Team (SERT) participated in a camp to teach middle schoolers how to create modified ride-on cars (ROCs) for young children with limited mobility. The modification of the cars is part of the Go Baby Go program, a national, community-based research, design, and outreach program that provides modified ROCs to families free of charge. Dr. Cole Galloway from the University of Delaware created the Go Baby Go program in 2012.
The Center on Human Development is currently researching the impact modifying the ROCs has on youth’s interest in STEM and robotics and whether modifying the ROCs encourages the youth to feel a sense of service to help their community. Dr. Chris Knowles and Jeff Gau are leading the GoSTEM! Project. Other collaborators include Dr. Sam Logan (Oregon State University) and Dr. Bethany Sloane (Oregon Health and Sciences University). The University of Oregon Holden Center provided the funding for the five jeeps and other materials needed to modify the ROCs.