缅北强奸

(photos by Jim Ellis)

International Lego robot competition at 缅北强奸

More than 500 competitors from around the world

Sarah Casson wasn鈥檛 yet in middle school when she discovered a love of robots. Her interest was sparked in 2010 when her mother and other parents in Long Island, New York started up a Saturday morning robotics class at the 10-year-old鈥檚 public school.

Four years and a regional FIRST Lego League (FLL) prize later, Casson and her team traveled to the University of Toronto to test their skills and ingenuity at Canada鈥檚 first-ever FLL International Open from June 4 to 7.

The competition 鈥 hosted by 缅北强奸 and FIRST Robotics Canada 鈥 brought together 1,200 competitors, coaches and family members from around the world. It was the exciting finale of FLL鈥檚 2013-14 season, themed Nature鈥檚 Fury, with 72 teams of participants ranging in age from 9 to 16 working to master natural disasters with their Lego robots. 

Participants from as far away as India, Singapore and Brazil were tasked with three challenges. First, they shared innovative research projects for predicting, preventing or protecting people from disastrous storms, quakes and tidal waves. Then competitors tested their robots' mettle as they completed missions, such as crossing a flooded waterway to deliver emergency supplies. The third component, called 鈥渃ore values鈥, had participants completing a teamwork challenge in just five minutes, testing their ability to work collaboratively on the fly.

FIRST, which stands for 鈥渋nspiration and recognition of science and technology鈥, is a non-profit organization that aims to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. That mission made the international open a perfect fit for the University of Toronto.

鈥淲e were excited to welcome students from all over the world to engage with the University of Toronto and the city itself, and to expose them to the amazing things our own students are doing,鈥 said Micah Stickel, chair of first year in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

Engineering students from the Faculty鈥檚 outreach office wowed FLL participants with a spin in a solar car and hands-on activities that had them investigating polymers, exploring the power of hydraulics and creating a 鈥渟py鈥 circuit with batteries, wires and switches.

The event took place in several locations on campus, with competition at Varsity Arena and in a purpose-built tent on Trinity Field, judging at OISE, and the closing ceremonies, fittingly, at Convocation Hall.

We were absolutely delighted to welcome these brilliant, budding engineers from around the world to the University of Toronto 鈥 and we would be very happy to welcome them back in the near future, as 缅北强奸 students!鈥 said President Meric Gertler. 鈥淓ver since we were selected to host the FLL International Open, the university has invested considerable time and resources to help ensure the event was a big success, and it鈥檚 been wonderful to hear so many stories bearing that out. Congratulations to all the winners, participants and organizers!鈥

Dave Ellis, director of FIRST LEGO League in Ontario and one of the key organizers of the event, said the multiculturalism in Toronto and at 缅北强奸 made venue selection easy.

鈥淭oronto was the clear winner for this first-in-Canada international event.  And capping it off at Convocation Hall, where thousands of 缅北强奸 graduates marked the culmination of their experience here, was so fitting. The energy in the room was amazing; everyone came together to cheer on the winners and celebrate their successes.鈥

Casson鈥檚 team took second place in the research project category.  While she didn鈥檛 take home the top prize, she stands to be part of a future wave of engineering undergrads passionate about making an impact. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really know much about robotics until I got involved with the Lego team. It鈥檚 really cool.鈥

Stickel said while he expected to see some impressive robots at the event, he was astounded by the creativity and collaboration of the competitors. 

鈥淭hat they came together to solve the same problem in such different ways was really incredible. These young people took their knowledge of math and science and worked as a team to find some outstanding solutions to the challenge they were given. They are exactly the kind of people we need in engineering.鈥

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