Danielle Boyer

Danielle Boyer developed Skobots, an Indigenous language learning robot, in just two weeks. The 3D-printed robots are a free and customizable shoulder accessory that help teach students traditional languages in the absence of native speakers. As a young inventor, she designed the prototype with the help of her mentors — Dr. Joshuaa Allison-Burbank, a speech language pathologist, and Robert Maldonado, a mechanical engineer with expertise in 3D printing. 

An Ojibwe and citizen of the federally-recognized Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Boyer is an inventor, educator, and activist dedicated to mentoring other young people. She founded The STEAM Connection — which works to reduce inequalities in science and technology — just a year after graduating from high school. Through her work, she also prioritizes environmental sustainability. Her robots are built from biodegradable components, and she co-hosts the podcast Hands-On Techie Talks, which teaches children about Earth-focused engineering.

She has been widely recognized as a changemaker and awarded for her work’s community impact, receiving the 2022 Sustainable Practice Impact Award from VentureWell, and being named an MIT Solve Indigenous Communities Fellow and to PEOPLE Magazine’s Girls Changing the World.