La Digue school takes part in selection process for First Global Robotic competition in Dubai |29 July 2019

The La Digue team and their science teacher with Nisti’s chief executive Xavier Estico

FIRST Global organises a yearly international robotics challenge to ignite a passion for Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) among the more than two billion youths across the world. It brings these future STEM leaders together in an engaging and collaborative competition that drives home the importance, excitement, and applicability of STEM education. FIRST Global inspires students to learn the skills they would need to make the impossible, possible thus making their parents and grandparents proud of such ingenuity.

The 2019 FIRST Global Robotic Competition will be held in Dubai from October 24-27. This year’s FIRST Global Challenge brings attention to a critical issue that will educate us to take action to preserve our oceans and wildlife. This year’s teams will learn about real-world challenges related to cleaning up the world’s oceans.

The 2019 team Seychelles selection process was held at Nisti’s premises at Bel Ombre on Saturday June 22, 2019. The response was great and there was participation from the following schools: English River; Pointe Larue; Beau Vallon; Anse Royale; Perseverance; Anse Boileau; Vijay International, Praslin; International School; Mont Fleuri; Belonie and La Digue.

Team Seychelles Selection Process:

Step 1: Each selected team in the schools had to identify a team captain, a robot designer, a programmer, a spokesperson and a joystick operator. They were then to come up with an action plan to get a robot to pick up a solar panel and boxes from one point to another. The final step was to get the robot to start a windmill spinning.

Step 2: Each Team needed to demonstrate the plan using an actual robot.

As part of 2019 Team Seychelles selection process, five students from La Digue School, namely Kwong-Wing Pierre, Dantonio Constance, Anna-Maria Bibi, Danio Marcelin, Adriano Ulcoq accompanied by their science teacher, took part in the selection process.

The generous sponsor to support the La Digue team came from Nisti employees, who were sympathetic to the La Digue team due to their geographic location challenge. Having visited the school, the Nisti team came to understand the financial constraints to get to participate in the exercise, therefore Nisti team decided to sponsor the return trip to ensure they were given a fair chance to be part of Team Seychelles. The La Digue team was very grateful for this kind and benevolent gesture.

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