In the halls of the Science Dissemination Center "NOESIS", in Thessaloniki, the future moves with ... robot circuits. As of yesterday, about 400 children, agenine to 16-year-olds, create, collaborate and compete - without competing - to create their own robotic constructions, within the framework of the First Lego League (FLL). It is an organization of worldwide radiation, in the form of a competition, held for the first time in Greece, with the theme "Nature's Fury" and results that have surprised even the organizers.
"More than 400 children are participating in 32 groups, as well as 100 volunteers, including people aged 16-20, as well as the judges of the competition, such as the honorary consuls of Finland and Denmark, executives of large companies and university professors. Only yesterday, 2500 people passed through the halls of Noesis ", explains to APE-MPE the educator and inspirer of the idea" EDU - ACT ", Costas Vassilios, in view of tonight's award ceremony of the best participations.
Courses of noble competition from children
According to him, what impressed the organizers was not only the quality of participation, but also the rivalry and cooperation between the children involved.
"Yesterday, for example, the sensor broke in the construction of a group that was doing very well, just before entering the competition. Then the second group said: 'Take our sensor and enter,'" says Mr. Vasileiou and adds that the cooperation between elementary, middle and high school children was also admirable.
"FLOR" for FLL Junior in Thessaloniki 2015 and for events in Crete, Athens and Xanthi
The success of the first event in Thessaloniki was such that it opened the way for local competitions within the prefecture as well as for the organization of First Lego League in Crete, Athens and Xanthi, possibly within 2015.
At the same time, from the new year, the organizers are considering organizing the FLL Junior competition in Thessaloniki, targeting younger children, aged 6-9 years, as there is a growing interest.
Robotics Laboratories in Ierapetra and Kordelio-Eyosmo
"On March 21-24 we will be in Ierapetra, Crete, where in collaboration with the Schools of Nature, Colors and the Lower Village, but also the parents' associations and the entire educational community, we will organize robotics workshops. In 2015, our goal is to start a competition in Crete ", notes Mr. Vassilios.
At the same time, the interest in participating in the 2015 contest in Thessaloniki is - as Mr Vassiliou - is so high that it opens the way for organizing local competitions. Next week, robotics workshops in the municipality of Kordelio-Evosmos in Thessaloniki begin.
"Robotics is not an expensive hobby"
"Robotics is not an expensive hobby, as many think, because the cost is shared among the team members, while if, for example, schools search, they will always find someone, program or company, which will offer the necessary kit", he noted.
For the competition were found in Thessaloniki and 10 children from the Faroe Islands, accompanied by two teachers. This is the team that had prevailed last year in the world competition FLL in Germany, which this year, due to material failure, did not even pass in the local organization. "When children talk to children, it has a lot of value. "Especially since the children from Faroes were in Thessaloniki while this year they had failed, a fact that gives lessons for the management of failure", notes Mr. Vassilios.
This year's world competition will take place in May in Spain. And here, a big surprise awaited the Greek organizers. While Greece was entitled to one place in the competition - which would go to the team that will receive the first prize tonight - the Central Organizing Committee in the USA, seeing the response of the public to FLL in Greece, decided to "give" three places.
A proposal for the volcano of Santorini
Ο κ.Βασιλείου δεν θέλησε να επεκταθεί σε λεπτομέρειες για τις επικρατέστερες συμμετοχές στον διαγωνισμό, καθώς η διαδικασία της αξιολόγησης βρίσκεται σε development.
However, according to RES-UPE, one of the groups, consisting of primary and secondary school children, has already made the first move to seek to implement its idea in practice. Small inventors have suggested the creation of a Santorini Volcano Observatory outside of the volcanic zone and have already contacted local authorities to promote their idea. Whether the proposal will be accepted is not known, but only the fact that primary and secondary school children have decided to make their idea an act is of course an important principle.
The competition is organized by the non-profit association "EDU ACT". Helping the organization is the Youth Foundation of the Metropolis of Neapolis-Stavropoleos. The contest is supported by the "Thessaloniki European Youth Capital 2014", NOESIS, "Hellenic Petroleum", "Mediterranean Cosmos". The whole event is under the auspices of the Macedonian-Thrace ministry and the municipalities of Thessaloniki, Pilea-Chortiatis and Kordelio-Evosmos.
News Room «Profit»With information from RES - AMP
