Holly Yanco facts for kids

Holly Ann Yanco is an amazing American scientist who works with robots and computers. She is a top professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She also leads a special center called NERVE, which stands for New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation.

Professor Yanco is famous for her work on how humans and robots can work together. She uses robots to help kids get excited about computer science. She also uses robots to create helpful tools for people, to build things in factories, and even to find people in emergencies.

Her Journey into Robotics

Holly Ann Yanco first became interested in robots when she was in middle school. She went to high school in Northborough, Massachusetts.

After high school, she studied at Wellesley College and graduated in 1991. Later, in 2000, she earned her Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her special project at MIT was about how people and computers can share control of a robotic wheelchair.

Before joining UMass Lowell, she taught at other colleges. These included Wellesley, Boston College, and ArsDigita University.

Awards and Recognition

In 2021, Holly Ann Yanco was chosen as an AAAI Fellow. This is a big honor from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. She received this award for her important work in human-robot interaction. She was also recognized for being a great leader in teaching and helping more people get involved in science.