Empowering Youth: Mexico’s World Robot Olympiad Focuses on Increasing Girls’ Participation and Promoting STEAM Education
Mexico’s 13th edition of the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) is set to take place in 2024, with a focus on increasing the participation of girls and young people. National organizer Jorge Hernández Huerta highlighted the importance of democratizing robotics and promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education for children at a press conference announcing the WRO.
Hernández Huerta emphasized that early exposure to various activities is crucial for a young person to develop interests and pursue career paths. In Mexico, efforts have been made over the past 12 years to introduce children as young as five to robotics and STEAM education. The WRO aligns with these objectives, bringing children closer to robotics and technology.
The competition comprises four categories based on age groups and encourages teams of children and teenagers between 8 and 19 to solve real-world problems using STEAM principles and robotics. Participants are guided by a coach throughout the process of designing, building, and programming a robot to complete challenges based on the competition’s theme.
Registration for the WRO is open via email at wromexico.org, with more than 32 teams already registered across 12 states in Mexico. There will be no participation fee this year thanks to the support of Fundesteam. The WRO fosters education, innovation, and technology among youth and has had a significant impact across Latin America since 2022. Future competitions will take place between May and July leading up to the international final in Turkey in November.
