Madeleine Coles

Staff Writer

Of the many programs ISU offers, one of the most unknown is the robotics program. Students in the robotics program can learn software development, semiconductor testing, lasers and optics, national defense and telecommunications. In addition, students can also join the ISU robotics club.

The robotics club formed at ISU in 2008, but since it first started has expanded widely. President of the club, senior Tristan Worley, said it is primarily a way to add on to experience for the robotics program.

“It’s a really good chance to decompress from the stress of school with people that share the same views,” Worley said.

Students also get the chance to enhance what they know about programming and physical building by working on robots. The club currently has a 3D printed R2D2 from Star Wars, which they featured in a booth at the Salt Lake City Comic Con. They also have Canine from the TV series, Dr. Who, and they are working on building the BB-8 robot from the most recent Star Wars movie, “The Force Awakens.”

In addition to supplementing the program, members of the robotics club focus on fundraising efforts to raise money for the club. Another primary role of the club is to host the VEX robotics competition at ISU. This year they hosted the second annual competition.

Worley said that the VEX competition is bringing in a chance for new students to come to ISU. Before the competition, they can receive a tour of the robotics program if they wish, which opens the doors to many high school students to come to ISU for robotics.

Possibly the best part about the club for the members though, is the sense of community. Worley said that he first joined the club because he just wanted to be part of a big group of nerds and meet like-minded people.

Worley added that his favorite part of the club was by far the people. “My job is tough,” he said, “but the people that I know here, I’d do it for them.”

As the president, Worley manages everything that the club does, which is a surprising amount. Geran Call, one of the advisers of the club, stated that the club does a lot more charitable work than people realize.

Call said that the club partners with a local robotics team called LiveWire to host a summer camp at ISU for kids aged eight to 14. They let LiveWire use their field as well as their robotics kits for the summer camp; additionally, some members of the club help teach more advanced robotics at the camp.

“It’s a great way to get the community to come into ISU,” Call said. “It’s also a great way for high schools to come to Pocatello and see what this program is about.”

Although many of the club’s members are in the robotics program, any student is welcome to join, and the club welcomes them with open arms.

“We’re a big group of geeks,” Worley said. “That’s about all.”