School children rise to robot challenge | Latest news

 

Robots designed by children at a Bognor Regis school completed racing, football and sumo challenges in an action packed event designed to inspire the next generation to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

The children took part in an in-school activity called the Antweight Robot Challenge which was part of the Coastal STEMfest held in March this year. Teams of five students designed and built their robots before competing in the three challenges.

Year 8 Pupil, Cameron Moores, 12, said: “I would like to do product design when I am older….I have really enjoyed myself this evening. I hope there are more events like this.”

The Coastal STEMfest was an initiative set up by the Coastal West Sussex Partnership which includes Arun District Council, West Sussex County Council, Sussex Learning Network, Tomorrow’s Engineers and STEM Sussex. Its main objective was to reduce the local STEM skills gap by delivering an engaging series of events and activities for secondary schools designed to inspire students to consider STEM careers.

Councillor Mrs Gillian Brown, Leader of Arun District Council and Cabinet Member for Council Strategy, said: “I am pleased to see The Regis School take this innovative approach to make STEM subjects come to life for the pupils involved.

“I hope the children who participated in this event and those across Arun who are studying STEM subjects will eventually choose to work for local companies or ultimately start their own businesses locally, which will help boost our local economy and drive innovation.”

Marie Harding, Head of Careers at The Regis School, said: “The purpose of this evening is to inspire the children taking part to study STEM subjects which will help them get jobs or places on college or university courses which further increase their skills.

“The children taking part had plenty of fun and learnt important skills such as team work, completing a task to deadline and sportsmanship.” 

Caroline Wood, Director of Coastal West Sussex, said: “There are lots of local companies such as GSK in Worthing and URT Ltd here in Bognor Regis that are looking for young people who have studied science and tonight [Wednesday, May 11] was a great opportunity to inspire young people to carry on studying STEM subjects at school.

“This was a really fun way of demonstrating to the students that studying STEM subjects is enjoyable and has the potential to lead to great job opportunities in the future.” 

For more information about Coastal STEMfest please visit the Coastal STEMfest website.