BHS Enters First Global Technology Challenge
Techy students from the Belize High School are stepping up their game; they are taking part in a global competition in robotics. The students have built a robot, aptly called Sea Empress, which has the potential to multi-task to clean up litter in the ocean. Teams from close to two hundred countries will also be participating in the challenge in Dubai which exposes the eager students to new opportunities and developments in technology and grows their creativity to be innovative. Here is Isani Cayetano with a report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
A team of students from Belize High School is headed to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, in the days ahead to participate in a global robotics competition. This year the technology challenge focuses on ocean opportunities and the kids over at BHS have built a robot that will be deployed to sea to assist in cleaning up marine litter. Team Captain Adrian Fonseca explains.
Adrian Fonseca
Adrian Fonseca, Team Captain
“We are representing Belize in the first global annual challenge hosted in Dubai. We’ll be going and competing alongside and against one hundred and ninety other countries. This year’s theme is Ocean Opportunities and a robot will be completing multiple task points and working in alliance with three other countries.”
According to Principal Jamie Usher, the team is inspired by simply being part of Belize’s technological evolution. She says gone are the days of just learning the basics of computer technology.
Jamie Usher
Jamie Usher, Principal, Belize High School
“We are motivated by the fact that we are part of the evolution of technology and science in Belize. So first, we used to teach IT as a subject, then we started using IT by bringing in projectors and then we started using technology with our class. So we would have Google Classroom, Google Drive, different elements, but now behind me, you just witnessed where our students are taking technology and engineering and creating which is really a fantastic transformation when you think about we are no longer teaching what is a mouse, what is a CPU, what is a keyboard. We’re actually telling them use everything that has been built up since elementary school and create something that can solve a problem.”
This afternoon, the team called on Prime Minister Dean Barrow at his Belize City office to show off Sea Empress. While our cameras were not allowed inside the building, Chahatt Chawla told us that the PM was quite impressed with what they were able to come up with.
Chahatt Chawla
Chahatt Chawla, Team Spokesperson
“We’re here today to introduce our robot to Honorable PM and to show him what we’ve done, what the challenges are and what the basic gist of First Global is.”
Reporter
“Let’s talk about the meeting with the PM. What was his impression?”
Chahatt Chawla
“He was very impressed. He expressed that he was really proud of us which made us really happy because we worked really hard on Sea Empress, that’s her name. And well, we are really excited to be representing Belize and he expressed his excitement as well.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
