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About

Anita G. Welch is an educational researcher whose work centers on science education, student attitudes toward STEM, and the role of competitive robotics in shaping young learners' engagement with science. Her scholarship has made a meaningful contribution to our understanding of how extracurricular and competition-based experiences influence the ways high school students perceive and relate to scientific fields. Welch is perhaps best known for her sustained investigation into the FIRST Robotics Competition as a vehicle for transforming student attitudes toward science. Using the well-established Test of Science Related Attitudes (TOSRA) as her primary measurement instrument, she systematically examined seven attitudinal dimensions — including the social implications of science and the perceived normality of scientists — across multiple studies spanning several years. Her 2010 exploratory study garnered 78 citations, while her 2011 follow-up attracted 56, together demonstrating the field's strong interest in her findings. Her earlier 2007 work laid the empirical groundwork for this research trajectory. Collectively, Welch's research provides compelling evidence that competitive robotics programs can positively shift how students view science, offering valuable guidance for educators, policymakers, and program designers seeking to broaden STEM participation and enthusiasm among secondary school students.