The Philippines’ foray into space has gotten even better as students in the elementary and high school levels have now set their eyes on the world beyond this planet.
It seems that space scientists and government leaders in the Philippines need not worry about the sustainability of human resources in the government’s space program because even the Filipino children have shown interest and skill in the area.
According to a recent report, two teams of young students from the Philippines have won two top awards in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Lego League World Championship held in Houston, Texas recently, for their projects concerning astronauts in space.
Robotics makes life in space easier
The impressive inventions of the Philippine Robotics National Team will make the life of astronauts in space more comfortable and convenient.
The national delegation was comprised of two teams. One was made up of students from ages 6 to 12 while the second team is from ages 12 to 17.
The older division’s theme was “Into Orbit,” which challenged the students to explore how they can solve the physical and social problems associated with long-duration space flight.
The team, with members aged 12 to 17, emerged as the Champion’s Award Finalist for their work called, “Project Fuse”, which bested 109 teams from 74 countries.
Their winning piece is a virtual reality game that connects astronauts in space to their families on Earth via a live virtual-reality video chat, with physical interaction made possible through a robot.
The other team, meanwhile, won the Explore and Discover Award and bested 43 countries.
The challenge for the Junior League, “Mission Moon,” was to learn about the Earth’s moon and what is needed to live there.
Their project aims to solve the problem of having enough food and oxygen supply for astronauts on the moon by creating a robot that can sustain the life of cyanobacteria.
These recognitions have showcased the brilliance of the Filipino youth.
Starting STEM interest at a young age
The event was dubbed as “the world’s largest celebration of STEM for students.” STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
It brought together tens of thousands of students from around the world to participate in the K to 12 Robotics program.
This year, around 34,000 teams participated and only 109 teams reached the World Championships.
The Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) had lauded the team’s triumph in the international stage.
The young robotics champions, together with the people behind their team, have brought tremendous honour to the country. This will truly inspire others to get into robotics as well.
The Director added that this victory will further motivate their Department to continue providing support for the emerging robotics experts.
The Philippine Robotics National Team is set to compete again at the FLL European Open Championship in Izmir, Turkey.
