Fifteen northwest Indiana middle schools will compete in the FIRST Lego League Indiana global robotics qualifying tournament, Saturday, Nov. 14, beginning at 9 a.m. at Purdue University Calumet’s Fitness & Recreation Center.
Sponsored by Purdue Calumet’s School of Technology, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is intended to promote enthusiasm for discovery, science and technology among 9-to-14-year-old students. Each year, FIRST Lego League teams embark on an adventurous challenge based on current, real-world issues. This year’s challenge is called Smart Move.
Participating students will research how people, animals, information and items travel in their community. During the qualifying tournament, the school teams will present their research and solutions to a panel of judges and build an autonomous robot using engineering concepts, while racing against the clock to complete specific criteria.
Student teams participating in this year’s competition represent Indiana elementary and middle schools from Hammond, Whiting, St. John, Cedar Lake, Huntington and Terre Haute.
The top qualifying teams will advance to state competition at Indiana University/Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Dec. 12.
Purdue Calumet’s Fitness & Recreation Center is located one-third mile north of Interstate 80/94 to 173rd Street, three blocks east of Indianapolis Boulevard to a traffic light and north into a free parking lot.
