Clonfert National School declared overall winners of Vex IQ 2022 hosted by Atlantic TU
Belmullet schools Glencastle NS and Barnatra NS win Skills Challenge
Clonfert NS and Foxford NS win Teamwork Challenge
Over 300 pupils from primary schools in Galway and Mayo attended the 2022 VEX IQ competition hosted by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) at its Galway campus last week (Friday 13 May 2022) together with volunteers from Trane Technologies International – Thermo King, Munster Technological University (MTU), Offaly County Council and ATU staff.
Clonfert National School (NS) were declared overall winners of the competition as well as joint winners with Foxford NS in the Teamwork challenge category while Belmullet schools Glencastle NS and Barnatra NS won the Skills Challenges.
Pupils from 17 schools across Galway and Mayo first signed up for the event last September (2021) when they received a robot kit, sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), and a game field, sponsored by Trane Technologies International – Thermo King.
Having worked hard all year with their teachers, designing, building and coding their robots, close to 300 pupils gathered at ATU Galway city campus to compete in the event which was opened by ATU President Dr Orla Flynn.
Professor Graham Heaslip, Head of the ATU Galway School of Engineering, says: “The VEX Robotics competition was a huge success. The teamwork, problem-solving and troubleshooting displayed by the students was fantastic. The competition fostered programming and math skills, which will stand to the students as they progress on their individual educational journeys.”
Dr Carine Gachon, ATU Galway City VEX Co-ordinator and Head of the B.Eng. Automation and Robotics programme delivered in collaboration with Trane Technologies International – Thermo King, praised all the pupils for learning and developing brand new skills in engineering and coding: “It was really exciting and the atmosphere was electric. Skills in robotics and programming are extremely sought after and it is really important to get children involved as early as possible so they can pick appropriate subjects in secondary school.”
Niall Kelly, Principal of Clonfert NS, overall winners, says: This was a fantastic programme that gave wonderful opportunities to the children to learn so many different IT skills in an enjoyable fun way. We are really looking forward to taking part in this exciting event again next year.”
Watch a short (3 mins) video of the event https://youtu.be/txPobQ--z4U
ENDS
Regina Daly, Atlantic TU Communications
Tel: +353 (0)91 742826 Mob: +353 (0)879618355
regina.daly@gmit.ie www.atu.ie/news
