Community cheers on Israeli robotics champions

Adults and kids alike gathered at Central Synagogue in Sydney last month to welcome an Israeli robotics team of year 9 students ahead of their bid at the FIRST Lego League Asia Pacific Open Championship in Sydney.

Area 51, from Handasaim High School in Herzliya, is the reigning national FIRST Lego League champion in Israel, having also won regional champion honours, the National Core Values Award and the National Robot Performance Award.

The meet and greet was hosted by Technion Australia, giving the students a chance to share their story with the community before competing against 50 teams from around the world at Macquarie University.

Team members took turns addressing the room, explaining the season’s innovation project – an automated system using a capacitive sensor and servo motor to test waterlogged wooden artefacts for archaeologists, built around this year’s FIRST Lego League research theme.

They also spoke about community initiatives the team has run in Israel, supporting special education, elementary schools, women’s programs and people in need. The competition robot was on display throughout the evening.

Attendees, including many young children, questioned the students about the robot’s engineering and the team’s journey to Sydney.

The team’s success reflects the work of FIRST Israel, the country’s national STEM robotics program delivered in partnership with the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. The program reaches more than 25,000 young people each year, and 94 per cent of graduates go on to pursue careers or degrees in science and technology.

A Technion Australia representative told guests the students’ visit reflected “Israel’s start-up drive, backed by the Technion’s academic excellence”.

Area 51 went on to place 15th out of 50 teams at the championship.

Technion Australia thanked Central Synagogue for hosting the event, and JCA for its support in making the evening possible.