Oshawa’s Durham College hosts elementary school LEGO Challenge
Published January 20, 2023 at 4:48 pm
More than 800 Grade 4 to 8 students from across the province gathered at Durham College’s Oshawa Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre last weekend to put their engineering skills and LEGO-based robots to the test during the 2023 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge and provincial championships.
Seventy-six student teams – guided by adult coaches – designed, built and programmed their robots using LEGO Mindstorms and LEGO Spike Prime technology. At the event, each team’s robot competed for the championship titles by navigating a themed playing field and completing assigned missions and tasks.
This year’s ‘Superpowered’ challenge theme encouraged participants to think creatively and critically to research and develop innovative solutions that improve the ways in which energy is captured, stored, distributed and used, concepts that connect directly to the college’s programs, initiatives and values, noted Dr. Elaine Popp.
Popp, the school’s Academic Executive Vice-president, told the students during Saturday’s opening ceremonies that Durham College is “leading the way” in sustainability, “which is why I’m so excited to see you use your imagination and innovative problem-solving skills to address real-world issues that directly impact our communities.”
With its geothermal field and Energy Innovation Centre, the ongoing transformation of Durham College’s energy infrastructure is one of the many ways the college is prioritizing its green initiatives to ensure the next generation of renewable energy experts have access to state-of-the-art facilities to support their educational journey.
“As you work together today, remember that the skills you’re developing, as well as your curiosity and drive to succeed, are the building blocks for future learning and exploration in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the trades.”
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Équipe Francobotique from the Association des francophones de la région de York placed first in the East division, qualifying them to compete in an international competition, and team GreenR Bots from the Halton STEM Club placed first in the West division, securing them a spot at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge World Festival, held in Houston, Texas, in April.
For more information about the challenge visit https://www.firstlegoleague.org/
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