I’m always impressed with the younger generation nowadays because of their creativity and logic when it comes to providing solution for the betterment of the environment using technology in the recent Brunei Robotics Olympiad 2015. Well, in this case, the students were using Lego Mindstorms (series of kits contain software and hardware to create customizable, programmable robots) to come up with possible solutions and tasks.

Last week, the competition among schools concluded and the winners were feted for their creativity and efforts. Sarah Abu Bakar, Acting Head of the Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (STEP) Centre, shared that there weren’t any outstanding solutions and still lacking that consistency and satisfactory level. However, overall there is an improvements as compared to last year’s entries.

For your information, one of the Brunei team made it to the Top 10 in last year’s World Robotic Olympiad 2014 in Sochi, Russia and I had a great experience, covering the event (Thanks Bluebox Services and STEP). Let’s hope for a similar feat or perhaps a better placing for this year’s WRO 2015 which will be held in Doha, Qatar.

A total of 177 students from 35 schools competed in the Regular Category, which required participants to build robots for challenges titled Pearl Diving, Treasure Hunt and Mountaineering. The competition was organised by the STEP Centre in collaboration with Bluebox Services and supported by Brunei Economic Development Board together with Sasbadi Holdings Bhd. The guest of honour was Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) Acting CEO Hjh Hasnah Hj Ibrahim.

I was also happy that St. Andrew’s School won in both categories that it participated in (Open category for Primary and Secondary) since it was my former school 😀 Even my friend Heidi is a proud parent as her daughter bagged first place.

The winner of Open category (Year 10 to Year 12) – Team Wise – St. Andrew’s School with Hjh Hasnah Hj Ibrahim, Acting CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board (2nd from right) and Sarah Abu Bakar, Acting Head of the Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (STEP) Centre (right)

2nd place of Open category (Year 10 to Year 12) – SAMSUA Technobot 2.1 – SM Sayyidina Umar Al-Khattab

3rd place of Open category (Year 10 to Year 12) – Unknown Paradox – SM Pg Isteri Hjh Mariam

The winner of Open category (Year 7 to Year 9) – The Oracle – Sekolah Menegah Berakas

2nd place of Open category (Year 10 to Year 12) – SAMSUA Technobot 2.0 – SM Sayyidina Umar Al-Khattab

3rd place of Open category (Year 10 to Year 12) – Robokids – Sekolah Menengah Sayyidina Husin

The winner of Open category (Year 4 to Year 6) – YOLO – St. Andrew’s School

2nd place of Open category (Year 4 to Year 6) – Banaatal-Jazari – Sekolah Persedian Arab

3rd place of Open category (Year 4 to Year 6) – Nafaha Explorer – Sekolah Rendah Junjongan

Winner of the Pearl Diving Category (Primary School) – Srat Diver – Sekolah Rendah Ahmad Tajuddin

Creative award for Pearl Diving – Deceptikons the 7th – Sekolah Rendah Muhammad Alam, Seria

Winner of the Treasure Hunt Category – SMSB’s Huntress – Sekolah Menengah Sufri Bolkiah

Guest of honour inspecting the team from Yayasan School

A demo from Sekolah Menengah Berakas

A demo from SOAS student

Team W.I.S.E from St. Andrew’s School

Julian Fung, BEDB’s Assistant CEO and Head of Infrastructure Development with students from Sekolah Rendah Sengkurong

From Sekolah Rendah Muhammad Alam, Seria

From Sekolah Rendah Sungai Tali