A group of five students from the province of Neuquén will travel to Panama City to participate in the World Robotics Championship, where they will compete against delegations from around the world in high-level challenges. The official calendar includes the FIRST Global Challenge. between October 29 and November 1, with tests inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals.
This year Neuquén was designated to represent Argentina within a scheme of federal rotation between provincesThe invitation, which in previous editions went to Misiones (2019), La Rioja (2021), the province of Buenos Aires (2022), Mendoza (2023) and San Luis (2024), once again puts the focus on Patagonian technical education, with Neuquén as the national flag bearer.
What is the FIRST Global Challenge and why it matters?
The FIRST Global Challenge is conceived as an international educational platform that encourages high school students to solve real problems through science and technology, just like other competitions such as the Chinese Robotics OlympicsBeyond the results, the main objective is promote science, technology and collaborative work in multicultural contexts.
During the tournament, teams build and program robots capable of tackling missions defined by the organization, including projects with robotic guitar with Raspberry Pi, with special emphasis on issues of social and environmental impact. This dynamic requires combining robotics, programming and engineering with communication, leadership and time management.
The competition features delegations from more than 190 countries, making it a great showcase for young talent and a meeting point for mentors, educators, and industry leaders. This global reach offers visibility that transcends educational borders Traditional.
The Neuquén team: selection, support, and preparation
The delegation was formed by the Government of the province of Neuquén through Ecydense, in coordination with the provincial Ministry of Education. The group is made up of five students from EPET No. 20, a center recognized for its trajectory in technology, robotics, programming and applied sciences.
The authorities highlighted the group's capabilities in programming, robotics, innovation, and strong team culture, in addition to recent experience in national competitions. Among its merits is the participation of two members in the Argentine Robotics Cup, a precedent that reinforces its competitive and collaborative profile.
The delegation will be accompanied by Educabot, an Argentine educational technology company with a track record in STEAM programs in schools. The firm acts as a local partner of the FIRST Global Challenge in the country, promotes the Argentine Robotics Cup, and has reached out to the educational community on a large scale, with 1,5 million students and more than 100.000 teachers trained, according to its data. Its co-founder, Felipe Herrera Zoppi, emphasizes that the value of these experiences lies in awakening scientific vocations and developing skills such as creativity, leadership, and teamwork.
In Panama, the Neuquén team will have to solve specific problems posed by the organization, generally related to sustainability and environmental protection. This approach tests both technical preparation and adaptability, generating practical learning and collaborative work under pressure.
Although the Argentine delegation takes center stage, the educational impact is shared internationally. In Europe and Spain, STEAM education is gaining ground in schools and institutes, and events such as the FIRST Global Challenge facilitate exchanges between teachers and students from around the world. The development of these projects serves as a reference for educational systems seeking to develop their own educational systems. strengthen digital competence and critical thinking.
With institutional support and the boost from their technical training, the Neuquén delegation will face the World Championship with the mission of competing and learning at the highest level. The combination of EPET No. 20, the support of Ecydense, and the accompaniment of Educabot places the team in a strong position to take advantage of an event that, due to its scope and demands, is considered one of the great global gatherings of young talent.