Technology and The University of Queensland have long gone hand in hand, but it is not usually school students who provide the know-how on campus.
That will change this weekend, when UQ welcomes more than 400 primary and high school students from as far away as Mackay, Bundaberg and Toowoomba to show off their robotic skills.
The students will take part in the Robocup Junior Queensland Championships at the St Lucia campus.
Their robots will be required to dance, play soccer or complete a rescue in a host of competitions to show student abilities in both design and programming.
Somerville House Year 10 student Genevieve Sargent said her team of five had learned many lessons while building the robots and competing successfully in the regional trials at North Lakes.
“I liked working with the technology and the teamwork. I have a great interest in robotics now,” the 15-year-old said.
“We researched the topic and we know how to use robotic software programs now.”
UQ School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering Associate Professor Stephen Wilson said the competition allowed students to learn the tricks of the electronics trade with hands-on experience.
“The University of Queensland is committed to fostering the growth of technology and robotics skills in young people as upcoming generations will be developing the technologies of the future and robotics is very likely to be a key technology,” Associate Professor Wilson said.
Media: Associate Professor Stephen Wilson (3365 2097).
