The Edge IFB2016 Robot Challenge will see teams of pupils come together to take part in a full-day event at the Innovation Hub at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool on 15 June.
The junior engineers will learn new skills in leadership and problem solving while being taught design, science and engineering principles to make the fierce, competition ready robots.
Forty students, aged 13 and above will form 10 teams of four using organiser MerseySTEM’s Protobot System from Vex Robotics to build the machines and pit them against each other in a series of matches.
The event is sponsored by Liverpool-based ChargePoint Technology a supplier of valves to some the world's biggest pharmaceutical and chemical businesses.
The Edge is IFB2016’s fringe festival and will run alongside the main festival from 13 June to 1 July.
Chris Eccles, Managing Director of ChargePoint Technology, is a member of Liverpool City Region (LCR) Local Enterprise Partnership Employment & Skills board and a sponsor of Liverpool’s Life Sciences University Technical College and as such a keen advocate of promoting STEM subjects to young people.
He said: 'It is vital to teach children about the importance of engineering, design and science. They are three of the most crucial industries in the world and they offer so many employment opportunities.
'The robot challenge will be fun but also very important because it will give children the inspiration to embark on a career in those sectors at a time when our national economy needs to increase these type of skills.'
MerseySTEM’s Managing Director Michelle Dow said: 'The robot days give us the opportunity to change perceptions, challenge stereotypes, promote teamwork and provide careers advice to students using real role-models from our city.
'The students are always so excited and it’s great to see them so passionate about engineering.'
