Children from across the city are being urged to become engineers for a high-tech Robot Wars challenge at the International Festival for Business (IFB2016).
The Edge IFB2016 ‘ Robot Wars ’ challenge will take place at the Innovation Hub at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, June 15.
The junior engineers will learn new skills in leadership and problem solving while being taught design, science and engineering principles to make the fierce, competition ready robots.
Forty students, aged 13 and above will form 10 teams of four using organisers MerseySTEM’s Protobot System from Vex Robotics to build the machines and pit them against each other in a series of matches.
The event is sponsored by Liverpool-based ChargePoint Technology a world-leading engineering and manufacturing company who supply valves to some the worlds’ biggest pharmaceutical and chemical businesses.
The Edge is IFB2016’s fringe festival and will run alongside the main festival from June 13 to July 1, and includes an innovative, creative and dynamic programme of events.
MerseySTEM’s managing director, Michelle Dow explained: “The robot days give us the opportunity to change perceptions, challenge stereotypes, promote teamwork and provide careers advice to students using real role-models from our city.
“ Robot Wars are nothing new, but whatever you say – robots are cool! The students are always so excited and it’s great to see them so passionate about engineering.
Managing director of ChargePoint Technology, Chris Eccles commented: “It is vital to teach children about the importance of engineering, design and science.
“They are three of the most crucial industries in the world and they offer so many employment opportunities.
“The robot challenge will be fun, but also very important because it will give children the inspiration to embark on a career in those sectors at a time when our national economy needs to increase these type of skills.
IFB2016 is being delivered in partnership with UK Trade & Investment, the GREAT Britain campaign, and with the support of the UK Government.
It is expected to attract thousands of international SMEs and high-level delegates from some of the world’s fastest growing economies.
The three-week summer gathering of inspirational speakers, business networking and more than 80 events will be clustered round three themes: manufacturing; creative & digital; and energy & environment.
IFB2016 Festival director, Kate Willard said: “The Robot challenge provides young people with a great chance to have fun working together – while at the same time changing their perceptions on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“These young people are our future workforce so it’s important that we enthuse them all about these critical subjects – and what cooler way to do this than building robots.”
