U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) Site Manager Meghann Hurt joined aspiring robotics engineers in Grand Junction, Colorado, earlier this month at the FIRST Lego League Explore Festival.
The festival at Mesa View Elementary School was the capstone of two months of hands-on experience for students building and programming a working Lego robot. The students ages 6-10 collaborate in teams of two to six participants, led by an adult supervisor, working through all the mechanical and coding processes from concept to completion.
The festival was not about competition; it was a celebration of the teams’ accomplishments and a recognition of their dedication in undertaking such a big challenge. It was also an opportunity for the teams to share their prized projects with their peers and family members and receive feedback from experts in the field.
Those experts are community volunteers from various scientific and technical fields. Hurt’s background is in physical science and geology. She and her partner reviewed seven teams at the festival and awarded each group an official FIRST Lego League certificate. Hurt said the kids found the whole experience rewarding but often difficult, and she said they relied on each other’s unique strengths and teamwork to make the project a success.
This year’s theme was “Cargo Connect," in which students look at how products are sorted, transported, and delivered to destinations all over the world. The kids worked with a kit that included Lego bricks and Lego education software, acquiring real-world skills through each step - researching, designing, building, and testing their products.
The event’s sponsor, FIRST ® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to designing innovative team-based robotic programs to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
The program is grouped into three divisions by age, ranging from 4-16. Each group experience is based on the company’s core values of discovery, innovation, impact, teamwork, inclusion, and fun. FIRST is offered in classrooms and after-school programs, relying on corporations, volunteers, and government entities to promote and support their cause.
STEM with LM is a program that supports federal staff to engage with local communities and groups like FIRST Lego League. STEM with LM is committed to supporting STEM education programs across the United States and providing educational programs that equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to help resolve the nation’s future energy and security challenges.
