ALMOST 40 teams of students from as far as Mt Magnet in the state’s Mid-West travelled to St Stephen’s School Carramar on Saturday to take part in the 2018 First Lego League.
The school was hosting the event for a second year.
More than 300 students put their robotics, research and Stem (science, technology, engineering, maths) skills to the test after months of preparation.
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READ NOWThemed ‘Into Orbit’, students had to solve physical and social problems faced by humans during space exploration, such as the need for air and water, or isolation that affects humans during long-term expeditions.
The school entered four teams, with a primary and secondary team from both its Carramar and Duncraig campuses, with three making it to the State finals at Curtin University this weekend: the Raging Comets (Carramar secondary), Galaxy Goats (Carramar primary) and the Robotic Operating Buddies (Duncraig secondary).
Though not progressing, the Space Doctors (Duncraig primary) won an award for their research project presentation, which aimed to combat the homesickness astronauts often face in space.
The Raging Comets also took home the Research Award, recognising their critical thinking and inventiveness in their overall presentation, while Galaxy Goats were awarded the Overall Championship title for their excellence across all competition categories.
“We know how much time and energy the students and staff put into this competition and how much it means to our students, so we are delighted to see their hard work pay off,” principal Donella Beare said.
Each team will be vying for a spot in the Australian National Tournament, where a win could take them to an international level.