NoireSTEMinist®, educator, researcher and author Dr. Carlotta Berry is bringing robotics and engineering out of the classroom.

In the process, she's both changing the face of STEM, and the general perception of engineering..

Dr. Berry, who is a professor of engineering and robotics at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, frequently takes an "arts" approach to accomplish her mission of including underrepresented populations and women In the STEM professions.

And that includes creating hip-hop robot poetry, writing Black STEM romance novels and hosting workshops on "Robotics for the Streets".

Carlotta, as she likes to be called, wants to empower everyone to see themselves in engineering, and robotics. That includes artists and creators--and especially includes women, and members of the Black and Hispanic communities.

During the pandemic, she founded two nonprofits: Black in Engineering and Black in Robotics. Resources on these websites include a speakers' bureau for anyone hosting events, as well as a reading list which spotlights Black scholars and innovators.

And if you'd like to learn robotics with her, you have that opportunity!

Carlotta will be teaching her "Robotics for the Streets" Arduino workshop during the 2023 Make: Education Forum, which is happening in September. And if you're an educator, you'll get to hear all about the open-source robot she's created for your classroom!

Carlotta talked about her creative journey, shared the story of creating her nonprofits and "Robot Slam Poetry" and offered a preview of her upcoming workshop.