Press releases
IET brings robotics schools’ challenge to Northern Ireland
21 November 2008
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) was among a partnership of organisations responsible for bringing the FIRST LEGO League, the world’s biggest interactive robotics challenge for young people, to Northern Ireland for the very first time.
The challenge involved pupils from 18 secondary schools in Northern Ireland taking on more than 100,000 budding scientists across the globe in this week’s (Tuesday 18 November) challenge.
Keith Chambers, IET Northern Ireland Network schools liaison officer, has been at the forefront of work to bring the FIRST LEGO League to Northern Ireland.
He said, “The objectives of this challenge are aligned closely with the aims of the IET’s educational initiatives; to deliver a wide range of activities that enthuse pupils about science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.
“In particular, we welcome the partnership between industry and schools, which will serve to motivate young people, providing them with an insight into the diverse and exciting range of careers available.”
The challenge was held at W5 in the Odyssey, Belfast, where the budding scientists designed, built and programmed a winning robot that could perform a series of tasks linked to a research presentation on global climate change.
FIRST LEGO League aims to help develop tomorrow’s innovators by introducing children aged from 9 to 16 to the fun of solving real-world problems by applying maths, science, and technology and to help develop tomorrow’s innovators.
A number of local organisations sponsored teams, including FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd, ESB International, NIE, Randox Laboratories Ltd, Seagate, Thales Air Defence Ltd, Cable & Wireless, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster.
As well as the IET, the partnership of organisations involved included Queen’s University, Invest NI, SAP Research (SAP) and W5.
Media enquiries to:
Robert Beahan
Press Officer
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0)7595 400912
E: rbeahan@theiet.org
Tracey Dawkins
Junior Press Officer
T: +44 (0)1438 767226
E: tdawkins@theiet.org
Notes to editors:
- FIRST LEGO League International (FLL) is a partnership between the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) organisation and the LEGO company. Introduced in 1998, it is an annual themed robotics challenge, with new challenges unveiled to teams across the world each September. For more information, visit www.firstlegoleague.org.uk.
- The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a world leading professional organisation, sharing and advancing knowledge to promote science, engineering and technology across the world. For more information, visit www.theiet.org.
- The IET dates from 1871 and has 150,000 members in 127 countries with offices in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.
- The IET licenses EngTech, IEng and CEng; is supporting the Engineering Diploma and developing the new ICTTech and accredits around 1,000 undergraduate and graduate courses.
- The IET operates IET.tv, a web TV service which covers a wide range of engineering and technology events and content. For more information, visit www.iet.tv.
- The IET celebrates 100 years at its London home, Savoy Place, in June 2009 and will be staging a programme of centenary celebrations.
- The IET publishes a range of publications, including E&T, Flipside, Electronics Education, Student and Young Professional, a range of journals and the Inspec Database.