Scientist introduces Cleveland kids to robotics and prepares them to change the world

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - When people think of robotics and the Great Lakes Science Center, the name JonDarr Bradshaw will always come up.

“Aviation, rocketry, and robotic systems that’s my jam,” said Bradshaw.

The scientist has worn a lot of hats in his life. He was a military aviator and also worked for NASA.

“No 2 days were the same,” explained Bradshaw. “I got to meet and hangout with extraordinary people. People like Guion Bluford, the first African American to travel into space”.

Bradshaw told 19 News he learned a lot from working at NASA, explaining that the mentors he’s had as an adult have pushed him to new heights.

“These are the people who see in me, something I didn’t even see in myself,” said Bradshaw. “Who turned around and said okay now that you know something it’s your responsibility to give something back to the community”.

At the center Bradshaw is the STEM education consultant, and oversees projects like the student robotics competition teams.

A program where kids not only learn new things and bring home trophies but they open up new worlds.

“I mean you wanna talk about life changing, these same kids that hope to get a job at Walmart are now looking at becoming biomedical engineers, computer scientists,” said Bradshaw.

Bradshaw also helps with a program called Hands Across Boarders: A Global Impact Project.

Where students create robotic limbs for kids overseas.

“Brown and Black people, girls, of all different ethnicities they don’t realize that science is for them too,” said Bradshaw.

Bradshaw is hoping through these projects more kids will learn of the many attainable opportunities that can come from the STEM world.

Bradshaw told 19 News these are programs that as a child he could have really benefitted from.

“I am soo passionate about getting kids excited and motivated in using science technology engineering and math,” said Bradshaw. “To make a difference in their community and the world”.