From Team Goa To Team India
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
STEM education is a special way of teaching that tailors to each student’s learning style and interests. It offers something for every student by combining technology and connecting different subjects together instead of keeping them separate like traditional education.
We are participating in FIRST Global Challenge which is a US-based nonprofit public charity established by the founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), Dean Kamen. THEIR MISSION is to inspire leadership and innovation in youth from all nations by empowering them through education in STEM. FIRST Global brings future STEM leaders together in a collaborative competition, using robots to instill self-confidence, skills, imagination, courage, and vision in kids, emphasizing the importance and excitement of STEM education.
Team India, a group of five talented students, is honored to represent their diverse and culturally rich country at the prestigious FIRST Global Challenge in Singapore. Their journey started with Team Legogoa, a parents-led community club dedicated to robotics, which has been making waves in the field for the past six years.
Amidst tough competition, the team’s innovative contraption that flung a tennis ball 27 meters using projectile motion earned them the privilege to represent India.
What sets Team India apart is not just their technical prowess but their unique backgrounds and determination to inspire others. Among the four boys and one girl, three are below 14 years old, making them the youngest participants. Their selection has garnered accolades from high-ranking officials, including the Chief Minister of Goa, bringing pride and enthusiasm to the entire state.
Hailing from the small state of Goa, Team India faces challenges with limited STEM awareness, facilities, and experienced teams. Undeterred, they are determined to be torchbearers for smaller regions in India, encouraging more students to pursue competitive robotics. Outreach activities are planned to ignite interest and passion for STEM among students in small towns.
Meet the Team:
- Apurva brings her creative talents in sketching and painting to the team. As the only girl, she aims to inspire more girls to venture into STEM fields.
- Atharv, with a passion for photography and automobile design, has participated in moonshot and tinker fests. His mechanical engineering background drives him to build an efficient robot.
- Sai Pranav, a robotics enthusiast since childhood, now gets a platform to design robots that can compete internationally.
- Venkatesh, experienced in robotics and app development, is eager to showcase the beauty of Goa through his mobile app and share his coding skills. He wants to document the journey.
- Viraj, a coding prodigy with multiple awards, focuses on programming, strategy, and precise robot control.
Guiding Team Legogoa Are Their Dedicated Mentors:
- Mr. Saieesh Gandhi, an experienced mentor, has been instrumental in kickstarting competitive robotics in Goa since 2019.
- Mr. Sumesh Jaiswal, a technical guru and an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, shares his knowledge gained from years of involvement in FIRST Robotics.
- Joining the team as the Technical Mentor for FGC India is Fahad Azad, a prominent figure in STEM education. With an impressive background, including being mentioned in the MIT TR35 list of Innovators, Fahad’s expertise is invaluable to Team India’s success.
Team India’s participation in the FIRST Global Challenge serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring students in smaller regions, inspiring them to embrace the world of robotics and STEM fields. They carry the spirit of diversity and unity, representing India’s rich heritage on the international stage. As they compete, they aim not only to win but to spark a revolution of curiosity and innovation in their homeland.
