Budding young engineers crowned FIRST® LEGO® League All-Ireland champions
The winning team were GPS from Scoil Treasa whose winning solution to the challenge was a robot called Rachel and a ‘Local to You’ website aimed at encouraging more girls in Ireland to play sports. GPS have been invited to represent Ireland at the International Open Competition hosted in Norway this May.
This year’s competition is called MASTERPIECE℠ and asks teams to imagine innovative new ways to create and communicate art across the globe using technology. Throughout the process, teams will demonstrate their skills in robotics, computer programming, teamwork, research, problem solving and communication.
The FIRST® LEGO® League programme in the Republic of Ireland is supported by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society at SFI, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting the IET and Creative Hut to grow this impactful programme, tailoring it to Irish schools and bringing engineering and robotics to new audiences. This programme supports the SFI Discover programme’s central aims to increase public engagement and broaden participation and access to STEM across Ireland.”
Hannah Rees, Senior Education Manager at the IET, said: “FIRST® LEGO® League allows young people to experience engineering in action. It gives students the opportunity to get hands-on experience with robotics and design innovative solutions to real world problems, all whilst bringing excitement to STEM subjects. Programming, teamwork, problem-solving and communications skills have never been so much fun and gives students an insight into the creative careers that the wonderful world of engineering offers.
“There is a great need for young people with STEM skills to fill the next generation of engineering roles as the UK faces a nationwide skills shortage. The competition empowers young people to think about a possible career in engineering and technology and we are excited to see such bright young engineering minds in FIRST® LEGO® League.”
The final was streamed live throughout the day on the IET’s YouTube channel and is available to watch on demand.
Other prizes awarded at the All-Ireland final included:
- Breakthrough Award: ARES from Enfield Community College
- Motivate Award: Team Femi from St Peters College Wexford
- Rising All-Star Award: Lil Octaves from Stokane National School
- Robot Performance Award: Cully Coders from Moyne Ulster-Scots Association
- Robot Design Award: Da Vinci Coders from St Andrews College
- Core Values Award: Game Changers from St Michaels PS Belfast
- Innovation Project Award: Innovation Project Award: Colmcilles Crafty Coders from St Colmcilles Primary School, Ballymena
The IET is proud to be the FIRST® LEGO® League’s UK and Ireland operational partner. Supporting the competition is part of the IET’s commitment to show young people the benefits of careers within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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