U.S. computer scientist and roboticist Chad Jenkins, associate professor of computer science at Brown University, leads a research group that explores topics related to human-robot interaction and robot learning, with a specific focus on robots learning from human demonstration. Using this approach, the group has trained robots to accomplish tasks such as navigating a basic maze and cleaning a messy room. The greater the number and variety of demonstrations a robot sees, the better it masters the task. Jenkins uses crowd sourcing to expose robots to a wealth of demonstrations. Over the past few years, hundreds of people have participated in training his lab's robots by logging on to the group's website and controlling robots to improve at block stacking, soccer and household chores. Jenkins, currently on sabbatical at the robotics company Willow Garage, predicts widespread use of robots will change society in the near future similar to how personal computing has over the last 30 years. Jenkins is a 2013 National Geographic Emerging Explorer.