Great young minds coming to Oshawa as UOIT hosts the FIRST ® LEGO® League provincial robotics championships

The best young robotic-inspired minds in Ontario are coming to Oshawa January 14 as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) plays host to the annual FIRST LEGO League (FLL) provincial championships. FIRST is an acronym that means For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

Nearly 600 students (aged nine to 14), over 1,000 parents, siblings and coaches, and 200 volunteers, judges, and referees will be on hand for the FLL competition, which encourages students to apply math and science concepts to research, design, build and program autonomous robots using Lego Mindstorms software.

Despite the young age of the participants, the competition is designed to have teams delve into real-world scientific issues, with this year’s challenge focused on Food Safety. Competitors will discover and explore innovative ways to solve and/or avoid food-related contamination issues with the intended purpose of helping everyone lead happier and healthier lives. Robotic missions include such challenges as setting a timer and thermometer to cook food properly, washing bacteria down a sink, and clearing pollution out of our food processing.

Teams earned their spots at the championship after taking part in practice tournaments and then one of 16 regional qualifying events from across the province. Once at UOIT, they will be judged in three categories:

• Robot design – how well a team demonstrates its understanding of robot design through building, programming, strategy and performance;
• Core values – how well a team demonstrates the integration of FLL core values in all aspects of the FLL experience; and
• Project – how well a team demonstrates its solution for a real-world problem and the research behind its solution.

Because FLL in Ontario has become so popular, a second Provincial Championship has been created to accommodate all the teams. So, for the first time ever, Ontario will have an Ontario East Championship AND an Ontario West Championship, both taking place simultaneously at UOIT on January 14, 2012. It’s an event you won’t want to miss!

When:

Saturday, January 14

8 a.m. – Judging and practice matches begin

10 a.m. – Opening ceremony

10:30 a.m. – Judging resumes and first official matches begin

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Lunch

1:15 p.m. – Judging callbacks

2:15 p.m. – Official robot matches continue (Rounds 2, 3 and 4)

4:30 p.m. – Awards and closing ceremony

Where:

Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre gymnasiums

Parking:

Follow Founders Drive south from the Conlin Road stoplights and turn left at the stop sign into Founders Lot 3.

For driving directions to campus: www.uoit.ca/directions.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Bryan Oliver
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2209
bryan.oliver@uoit.ca