The African leg of the International Lego Robotics Competition will be staged at Emerald Casino Resort, Gauteng this weekend.
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (First), which aims to motivate children to take an interest in science and technology, will host the First Lego League (FLL) event.
About 63 000 middle school students from 30 countries took part in the first phases of the eight week contest around the world. The children, assisted by coaches and mentors, used Lego Mindstorms kits to build small, fully functional robots.
At the African event on 3 December, about 250 children will present their research and findings and prove their robots` performance to a panel of judges.
The competition was launched a couple of years ago in SA and this year`s theme is Ocean Odyssey Challenge. "Kids are put into teams and they research the topic and find out what effect modern technology has on the ocean," says Laurent Pacariz, Emerald Casino`s assistant leisure and entertainment manager.
They have to use Lego Mindstorms kits to build small, fully functional robots, which will be judged and the best chosen will be sent to Denmark. "The technical and analytical ability gained through building Lego, not to mention the challenge involved, can be nurtured into skills that are applicable to the job market," he says.
"The competition is directed at kids aged between eight and 16. They are given the task of applying creativity and science to studying and protecting the world`s oceans," says Pacariz.
According to Pacariz, projects of this nature are technically at the level of first year engineering students. "It`s great exposure for the kids of SA to careers such as engineering," he says.
Teams will be measured not only on their technical design and programming but also on equally important skills: team work and research, especially research that concerns the use and abuse of the world`s oceans.
"Not only will this event unlock technological potential of South African children, but it will also assist in bridging the digital divide," he concludes.
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