The Robotics Medals
Celebrating the important role of women shaping the future of the world through robotics!
Robotics Medal and Rising Star Award
The world’s first major prize to recognize the wide-ranging impact of female researchers for the development of robotics around the globe highlights achievements of female roboticists and other underrepresented groups, and serves to inspire future generations of female leaders, scientists, researchers, builders and more.
From established professionals to rising stars to those preparing for and pursuing technical careers in robotics, the Robotics Medal and Rising Star robotics awards are the platform to showcase the impact of these inspirational women and the impact that the technologies they are developing will have on our future.
The Robotics Medal
Annual award is presented to a female researcher for substantial achievements and contributions in the field of robotics and comes with a $50K prize.
Rising Star
Presented to an early-career professional woman making strides in research that will lead to significant impact in the field of robotics and is accompanied by a $5K prize.
Honoring our 2024 Robotics Medal and Rising Star Recipients
Our Robotics Medal and Rising Star Recipients were announced at the ICRA@40 conference in Rotterdam.
Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Director, Personal Robotics group, MIT Media Lab
MIT Dean for Digital Learning
Dr. Heather Culbertson
University of Southern California
Gabilan Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Haptics Robotics and Virtual Interaction (HaRVI) Lab Director
Dr. Josie Hughes
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Gabilan Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Assistant Professor
Computational Robot Design & Fabrication (CREATE) Lab
Honoring our 2023 Robotics Medal and Rising Star Recipients
Our inaugural recipients, Nancy Amato and Alyssa Nicole Pierson, were announced at the ICRA 2023 conference in London and received their medals at a formal Gala at the Museum of Science on October 21st, 2023.
Dr. Nancy Amato
University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign
Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering and Department Head
“The field of robotics requires the unique insights, inventiveness, and leadership of more female professionals to propel the science, engineering, and applications of this crucial discipline forward, and to inspire the ensuing wave of innovators,” says Daniela Rus, Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT and member of the MassRobotics board. “The Robotics Medal signifies far more than its substantial monetary award. It symbolizes an acknowledgement and celebration of the remarkable achievements of women who not only pioneer in the field, but also inspire as role models, sparking the curiosity and ambition of the forthcoming generation of roboticists.”
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