Seychellois students gear up for FIRST Global Challenge robotics competition in Washington |12 July 2017

Every 60 seconds a child somewhere in the world dies of a water-related disease.

Due to the importance of resolving this pertinent global issue FIRST Global has set the access to clean water at the focus of its robotics challenge this year.

In respect of this, a group of six students from the Beau Vallon secondary school along with their mentor will be representing Seychelles in the FIRST Global Challenge robotics competition to be held in Washinton D.C.

The students will be going head-to-head against their peers from more than 150 countries in showcasing the robot they have designed in this ‘Olympics’-styled competition.

In a send-off ceremony hosted by the Vice-President’s office on July 10, the participants received their plane tickets and were treated to parting words of encouragement from Vice-President Vincent Meriton.

Mr Meriton emphasised on the students’ need to learn, listen and show the best of themselves in order to acquire more knowledge to become Seychelles’ next generation of scientific leaders.

“When Seychellois apply themselves as seen in the UN Ocean Conference, we are very good,” he stated.

The vice-president and other attendees were also given a demonstration of the functions and mechanics of the robot.

Much like their other counterparts around the world the young Seychellois team was given the engineering task of constructing a robot that has for function to effectively collect and separate polluted water and clean water.

Xavier Estico, the chief executive of the National Institute of Science Technology and Innovation (NISTI) noted that the competition is based on STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics): an American concept which aims to encourage students’ appreciation of these four subjects.

A study conducted by NISTI observed a decline in these four skill sets in Seychelles hence projects like these can excite students to take on these particular skills which, according to Mr Estico, “are pivotal if we want Seychelles to thrive in what is becoming an increasingly knowledge-based global economy”.

The team of students heading to Washington worked laboriously over the project since April with the support and guidance from NISTI, their devoted science teachers and a multitude of sponsors.

Stana Mousbé, the media representative and spokesperson of the team, said: “We were notified of the competition in January but unlike other countries we only received the kit in April instead of March.”

“So in the course of two months we quickly engineered our robot, dealt with programming and started practicing.”

Other members of the team are Nellie Azemia (team captain), Shana Banane (designer), Anil Buron  (designer, builder and tactician), Damian Ernesta (programmer, builder and pilot), Frazer Nalletamby (programmer and pilot), Kevin Dupres (mentor).

Ms Mousbé added that the fact that they are going to attend such prestigious event in Washington D.C. of all places seems surreal to all of them.

“We’ll believe it when we’re seated on the plane,” she jokingly said.

The FIRST Global Challenge robotic competition is an annual event that addresses the 14 Grand Challenges identified by the United States of America’s National Academy of Engineering.

This is the first time Seychelles participates in the FIRST Global Challenge robotics games and will be facing strong competitions from countries more technologically adept such as USA and China.

The team left for Washington yesterday.

Seychelles NATION wishes them the best of luck.