La Martiniere for Girls Hosts Inter-School Robotics Championship 2024 Eastern Zonal Finale

On October 22, 2024, La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata – a 188-year-old institution rich in heritage and academic excellence, became the centre of innovation and excitement as it hosted the Eastern Zonal Finale of the prestigious national Inter-School Robotics Championship (IRC) 2024.

Organised by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) in collaboration with IHFC (Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Delhi), this competition showcased the growing integration of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in school education.

Principal of La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata, Rupkatha Sarkar, proud of her school’s role in this groundbreaking event, remarked, “It’s an honour to host this historic event, and we are deeply grateful to CISCE for choosing us. They selected a legacy school like ours, believing in our commitment to science and technology. Our institution is not just rooted in tradition but is also embracing the future. Hosting this event is a testament to CISCE’s dedication to bringing science and technology to every school under its domain.”

This year's Eastern Zonal Round saw an impressive participation from 328 teams across West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha. After rigorous early rounds, 120 teams advanced to the zonal competitions, with 30 schools representing each zone. Six teams from each of the four zones (Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Bengaluru) will compete in the Grand Finale in Hyderabad scheduled from November 11-13, 2024.

The competition, which featured students from grades 9 to 12, challenged participants to design robots that could assist in industrial tasks like assembling homes. This practical application of robotics showcased the growing relevance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in modern curriculums.

A Vision for 21st Century Learning

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, CISCE is making a concerted effort to bridge the gap between school and higher education. One of the highlights of the championship was its focus on the importance of early exposure to Robotics and AI.

The theme of this year's IRC was focused on industrial robotics, where students demonstrated their ability to code robots that can assist in assembling homes – placing walls, doors, windows, and even opening them – all within two and a half minutes. This concept of ‘co-botics’ (robots collaborating with humans) is designed to showcase the real world application of robotics in solving industry-related challenges.

Professor Subhasis Bhaumik, Dean, Planning & Development, and Professor at IIEST Shibpur, expressed his admiration for the young minds at work. He observed, “Typically, such programmes are conducted at the undergraduate level, beyond class 12. But it's remarkable to see students from classes 9 to 12 engaging with Robotics. It’s astonishing how well these young minds are handling various aspects of engineering – mechanical, electronics, electrical, and coding. They’re learning through a blend of education and entertainment, or ‘edutainment’, enjoying the process while enhancing their skills.”

The Road to the Grand Finale

The competition at La Martiniere for Girls was fierce, with teams from across the Eastern Zone showcasing their robotic creations. The top six teams which qualified for the Grand Finale in Hyderabad were:

1. Team Techno Titans - National English School, Rajarhat, West Bengal
2. Team Sensor Sorcerers - Stewart School, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
3. Team Nassa DX - Church School, Beldih, Jharkhand
4. Team Synergy - St. Joan’s School, Kolkata, West Bengal
5. Team IRC_HTS - Hill Top School, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
6. Team Paulite Actuators - St Paul’s School, Darjeeling, West Bengal

These teams exemplified the spirit of innovation and teamwork, having navigated the challenges of building robots that can perform complex tasks under time constraints.

Professor S K Saha, IIT Delhi, and Project Director at IHFC, knowledge partner of the event, reflected on how the championship is meant to serve as a practical extension of classroom learning. “The IHFC at IIT Delhi developed the Robotics and AI course for CISCE two years ago, and it will feature as an elective in the 2025 board exams. To assess how well students are grasping these concepts, we introduced the inter-school robotics championship. Our goal is to see if they can apply classroom learning to build real robots. This initiative aims for long-term impact – we’re striving for a revolution in STEM education.”

A New Era in School Level Robotics

As this championship sparked curiosity and creativity among students, it also marked a significant step towards integrating STEM education into the fabric of Indian school curriculums. The Inter-School Robotics Championship 2024 signalled towards the future of education in India.

As CISCE continues to expand its focus on technological innovation, students are gaining access to cutting-edge skills that will shape their academic and professional futures.

In Sarkar’s wise words, “In twenty-first century learning, science and technology, especially Robotics and AI, are crucial. If we don’t introduce them at the school level, it might be too late by the time students reach higher education. This helps students acquire problem-solving skills and the ability to apply technology for practical, everyday needs early on.”

With events like these, India’s youth are being prepared for a future where Robotics and Artificial Intelligence play central roles in industries across the world. And the future of science, technology, and robotics in India is looking brighter than ever.