North Highlands Team Headed For International Robot Challenge

26th March 2024

NRS Dounreay and socio economic partners hosted the second FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge North Highland Tournament in March with local schools taking part.

The North Highland tournament took place in March at ETEC on the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) North West and Hebrides Thurso Campus. It was hosted by NRS Dounreay, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) North Highland and the UHI campus.

FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge is an international competition sponsored by the Institution of Engineering and Technology in the UK.

Eight local teams participated - 4 from Thurso High School, 2 from Noss Primary School and 1 each from Reay Primary School and Newton Park Primary School.

The teams designed, hand-built and programmed their robots over the winter, and prepared a presentation which they delivered to the judges.

Each team participated in 3 short robot games and presented to a panel of judges where they were judged on their robot design, innovation project and core values such as team work. They are also judged throughout the tournament and games on their ‘gracious professionalism'; their behaviours within their own team and towards other teams.

Newton Primary's ‘The Ten Lego-teers’ won the Champion’s Award, for the team that embodies the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge experience by fully embracing the core values while achieving excellence and innovation in robot performance, robot design, and the innovation project.

Marie Mackay, Employee Engagement Specialist at NRS Dounreay and one of the main organisers, said:

We were all so impressed by the pupils that participated in this year’s challenge, from their robot games through to their presentations. They were a credit to themselves and their schools as they demonstrated excellent team work and cheered on their opponents throughout their games.

The FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge is a big undertaking for the pupils, teachers and STEM ambassadors who support the teams; they have to be dedicated throughout the academic year to be in a position to compete however the pupils gain so much from it, not only STEM skills but the team working, presentation skills and personal development in general. NRS Dounreay working in partnership with DYW North Highland and UHI North West and Hebrides, is delighted to provide this opportunity to pupils in Caithness and North Sutherland.

Trudy Morris, CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce and DYW North Highland lead, added, "DYW North Highlands is delighted to once again support the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge. It’s a fantastic international event which takes place in over 110 counties worldwide.

The talented teams participating at this year’s event were exceptional and we were very impressed with everyone that took part. They had invested a huge amount of time and effort into preparation for the challenge, and this really shone through on the day.

FIRST® LEGO® League is inspiring young minds and helping them realise their potential and their power to build the future. Hands on learning experiences such as this are instrumental the long term for the development of our young people and their future prospects.

Opportunities like this not only foster confidence but also equip participants with invaluable real-world skills such as problem-solving and teamwork, essential for their personal growth.

The Ten Lego-teers will be competing in the FIRST® LEGO® League MASTERPIECE Great Britain National Final on 20 April in Harrogate.