Joanne Pransky Celebration of Women in Robotics Scholarship
Offered by Women in Robotics
About this scholarship
Women in Robotics funds the Joanne Pransky Celebration of Women in Robotics Scholarship to encourage female-identifying students who want to work in robotics. The current Bold.org application offers ten one-time awards of $1,000 each and is open to eligible students at the high-school, two-year college, four-year college, or graduate level. Applicants may be studying robotics already or otherwise demonstrate a serious interest in entering the field. The application centers on one original piece of writing between 500 and 1,000 words. Inspired by Isaac Asimov’s influence on generations of roboticists, the prompt asks for a short science-fiction story or essay exploring challenges or opportunities that robotics may create in the near future. Women in Robotics explains that the award honors Joanne Pransky, an early advocate for the human and social dimensions of robotics who mentored and inspired women entering a field where they have often been underrepresented. Selection emphasizes ambition, drive, and potential impact. The scholarship page is the live application landing page and requires a Bold.org applicant profile before submission. Applications close August 30, 2026, and the sponsor expects to announce the ten recipients on October 1, 2026.
Eligibility
- Identify as female
- Be a high-school, two-year undergraduate, four-year undergraduate, or graduate student
- Demonstrate an interest in working in robotics
- Create a Bold.org applicant profile to access and submit the application
- Submit an original 500- to 1,000-word science-fiction story or essay about near-future robotics challenges or opportunities
- Complete the application by August 30, 2026