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(Wolfville, NS) -
Acadia University will be the site of two robot programming
competitions scheduled for November 25. The 2nd Annual High School
Robot Programming Competition (RPC) features 14 teams of high school
students from grades 9-12. The 1st Annual FIRST LEGO® League (FLL)
also features 14 teams of students aged 9-14.
“The goal of both
competitions is to interest students in science, math and
engineering through showing them that learning can be fun and
entertaining,” said Acadia computer science professor Dr. Danny
Silver, main organizer of the event. “The competition between teams
adds excitement for spectators and gives friends and families a
reason to cheer for the students. It also creates an opportunity for
our generous local sponsors to showcase their support for education,
particularly young people interested in science.”
The High School RPC is
designed to allow teams of high school students to apply their
interest in computers in a fun and exciting programming competition.
The competition was started by professors in Acadia’s Jodrey School
of Computer Science who were looking for a way to interest students
in studying computer programming, math and science at university.
The two competitions now include professors from several science
faculties.
“High school students
can have a difficult time seeing the link between what they choose
to study in school and the skills they will need to compete for
jobs,” said Dr. Silver. “Information technology, math and science
can be fun and very rewarding. You also need strong team-building
and problem-solving skills. We want young people to consider careers
in science and math related fields and to better understand the high
school education they will need to pursue a university program that
leads to the career of their choice. The RPC and FLL competitions
let students spend some time on a university campus, interact with
professors, challenge themselves academically and spend time making
new friends with similar interests – pretty much what the university
experience is all about.”
FIRST (For
Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an
organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young
people’s interest and participation in science and technology,
brings its annual FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) season to the
Annapolis Valley with the 2006 Nano Quest Challenge.
This year’s challenge
calls for teams of 9 to 14 year-old children to research and present
their own creative applications of nanotechnology to improve
people’s lives. Next weekend, at Acadia, eight weeks of research and
design will culminate in the FLL challenge where 14 teams of
children and mentors will demonstrate their problem-solving skills,
creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship, and
sense of community.
Michelin North America
(Canada) Inc. is the major sponsor for this year’s FLL competition.
“Michelin is proud to play an active role in the community and we
are thrilled to sponsor the FIRST LEGO ® League event at Acadia”,
says Dennis Langille, Technical Manager of the Michelin Waterville
facility. “Our business relies on innovation and discovery through
science and technology, and we believe the FLL is an excellent way
to inspire children to be curious, to explore new ideas and to be
innovative.”
The RPC and FLL
competitions are judged in four areas: project presentation; robot
performance; technical design and programming of the robot; and
teamwork. The highest honor will go to the team that best
exemplifies the spirit and values of the program.
Acadia University, in
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, is recognized as one of Canada’s premier
undergraduate institutions. With its nationally and internationally
recognized research initiatives, small class sizes, and its
technology-rich teaching and learning environment, Acadia offers
students a personalized education that includes rigorous academic
programs combined with personal growth and development. For more
information about Acadia, visit our website at
www.acadiau.ca.
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