LEGO Brick Challenge

An event that globally involves more than 600 thousand young people of different ages who confront each other on issues of social, economic, ecological interest, either by programming robots or developing technology-related projects.

The event, stemmed from the collaboration between LEGO and FIRST – an American nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of science among youths – was introduced in Italy in 2012 by Fondazione Museo Civico di Rovereto and in this edition benefited from the collaboration of the Fondazione Bruno Kessler, which has always been attentive to the involvement of the younger generations through the FBKJunior program and participation in the STAARR network, the Trentino Alto-Adige Schools in Robotics Network.

More than 100 kids aged 6 through 10, organized into 11 teams and supported by their coaches, described with big excitement the project designed to embrace the topic of the year, “MASTERPIECE”, that required participants to develop an idea where science and technology would be of service to art. Starting with the same motorized stage model, assembled and programmed using the LEGO Spike essential kit, the teams were able to express their creativity by building a context for their model and presenting the poster created to share the project. The audience was a panel of judges made up of representatives from Fondazione Bruno Kessler, national sponsor Murata (a Japanese company that is a world leader in the design, production and sale of electronic components, communication modules and solutions) and STAARR network coordinator, who listened with interest, asked questions and commented on the projects providing advice and encouragement to the kids.

Nationwide, 105 teams participated in the EXPLORE program. The 11 who came to Povo were all from the Triveneto region: 3 teams from Vicenza, 2 from Verona, 2 from Treviso, and one each from Trento, Bolzano, Brescia, and Gorizia.

The afternoon wrapped up with a celebration: all teams were awarded, for their innovative solutions, creativity, planning skills, poster and communication, teamwork, enhancement of all skills, and fair play (core value of the FIRST® LEGO® League).