More than 100 high school students from across the city are building robots in the U-M Detroit Center.

At the Michigan Engineering Zone, or the MEZ, the students find space, a metal shop and engineering mentors to help them as they compete in the FIRST Robotics 2010 national competition.

An example of U-M’s increased community involvement, the MEZ is sponsored by the College of Engineering (CoE) in collaboration with Detroit Public Schools.

An open house took place Feb. 18. Students, teachers, mentors and administrators were present, including David Munson, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering; Lester Monts, senior vice provost for academic affairs; Francois Castaing, president of FIRST Robotics in Michigan; and Leaura Materassi, chief instructional officer at Detroit Public Schools.

FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” which sums up the program’s mission. Through the MEZ, the college is advancing these goals that it shares.

“We are committed to developing a pool of talent and educational opportunities for high school students,” says Jeanne Murabito, CoE executive director for student affairs. “Through this collaborative effort, we are delivering an exciting mentor-based program that builds engineering, science and technology skills; inspires creativity; and fosters self-confidence and team work.”

Murabito calls the atmosphere “magical.” Fourteen teams are using the space. They learn from mentors from the college, the U-M and MIT alumni associations, Ford and SAE International.

For some teams, the MEZ is what makes it possible for them to participate. 

“We would not have had a team if not for this facility,” says Mary Evans, retired social studies teacher and coach of the Kettering High School team. “From day one, we had a place to build and a multitude of mentors.”

Last year, Evans’ team had to travel 20 miles each way to build with another team that offered to help them. Now, students take a school bus to their workspace.

“Through efforts like this one, Michigan Engineering is working to create a larger, more broadly educated, diverse pool of capable engineers, Munson says. “It is important that all high school students have experience in creating something new, and not just in studying what already exists.”

The 5,200-square-foot facility includes a practice playing field where students can test their machines. FIRST’s game for 2010 is essentially three-on-three soccer. Robots must be built by Tuesday. The initial rounds of competition begin March 4, with the finals in Atlanta starting April 15.

The MEZ is at in U-M’s Detroit Center in Orchestra Place at 3663 Woodward Ave., Suite 150.