eMadrid network members (URJC) receive a Google RISE Award

A group of researchers from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, part of eMadrid network, has been recognized by Google with one of their RISE Award, a prize that will allow them to continue their research and their computer programming training camps for children from 3 years old. It is the first time that a Spanish team achieved these awards, which recognize the work of organizations around the world promoting computer science since 2010.

The awardee project is called Dr. Scratch, a web platform that allows uploading Scratch programs; Scratch is a visual programming language oriented to children learning to code. This tool allows assessing student programs, and they receive an overall score regarding their coding skills. Besides the technological component, this initiative has a deep social background, as activities specifically geared to promoting programming for girls, disadvantaged and disabled will be conducted throughout the year. In this sense, the project goal is that no Spanish scholar runs out of this movement of promoting programming from early ages.

In the last six years, $4.3 million dollars in RISE Awards have been granted to 205 organizations across 25+ countries acting as changemakers that engage, educate, and excite over 200,000 students all over the world.