The eyes of LEGO robot enthusiasts across the globe will be on Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) this weekend as more than 1,500 young people from North and South America, Europe, and Africa will descend on the campus for the Inaugural WPI Annual FIRST LEGO League Open Event. The WPI Robotics Resource Center is hosting the event, which brings 75 teams from as far away as Belgium and Rwanda together for the friendly competition, which engages students age 9 to 16 in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering. They build LEGO robots that navigate the missions of a robot game, and participate in a research project to identify and solve a real-world problem. The event is free and open to the public. FIRST LEGO League is part of WPI’s long-standing relationship with FIRST Robotics.
“WPI is excited to welcome teams from 16 different countries to our first FIRST LEGO League Open Event,” said Colleen Shaver, director of the Robotics Resource Center. “This global event celebrates the best of STEM, diverse teams collaborating and competing all while having fun. They are challenged to consider themes that impact the world, and get hands-on to solve the worldwide challenges.”
What:
Inaugural WPI Annual FIRST LEGO League Open Event
Who:
75 teams, 1,500 students ages 9 to 16 from North America and Europe
When:
Friday, June 9, through Sunday, June 11
Teams arrive Friday; ideal times for photos, video, and/or interviews are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 10, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Where:
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Harrington Auditorium
100 Institute Road, Worcester, Mass.
Live streaming available http://www.twitch.tv/wpirobotics
If interested in covering the event on campus, please contact:
Colleen B Wamback
Director of Public Relations
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Marketing Communications
+1 (508) 688-4858
cbwamback@wpi.edu
