RP to host 2010 World Robot Olympiad for young scientists

MANILA, Philippines - It’s the Philippines’ turn to host the 2010 World Robot Olympiad (WRO), an annual robotics tilt for young scientists from all over the world.                                                                  

On Nov. 6 and 7, over 1,000 elementary and high school students will compete at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.  The competition was first held in Singapore in 2004. This year, schools were invited to enter a team of three students to build a robot model that behaves like athlete.                 

Ester Ogena, director of the Science Education Institute, an attached agency of the Science department, said the WRO is an effective strategy to enhance the interest of the youth in science and technology.                                                                   

“We are optimistic that through the WRO, we would be able to encourage the youth to become future scientists, inventors and engineers. Robotics competitions provide the youth the opportunity to grasp and apply electronics and information technology,” Ogena said.                                         

 In the 2009 World Robot Olympiad in Scandinavia, the Philippine teams from First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities in Tanauan City, Batangas and Grace Christian High School in Quezon City won gold medals. The country also won two silvers and a bronze.