In this rapidly changing world, we find ourselves in a moment of huge opportunity.
The fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics — collectively known as STEM — are the engines that drive our progress, shape our future and help us to confront the challenges of our time. At the forefront of this transformation is robotics, a field that holds the potential to revolutionise our world. The annual FIRST Global Challenge robotics competition is a celebration of this transformative power. It brings together young minds from across the globe — each with diverse perspectives, experiences and talents – in a collaborative competition that drives home the importance, excitement and applicability of STEM education.
As a 16-year-old who is passionate about technology and robotics, I was thrilled to be part of the 2024 Cayman Islands team that recently travelled to Athens, Greece, to participate in the event. FIRST Global empowers participants to collectively tackle the world’s most pressing challenges and come up with solutions that improve quality of life for all. For me, that is the most exciting part. When we think about robotics, we’re not just building machines; we’re creating solutions to issues that matter in our lives.
Themed around the greatest challenges facing our planet, and linked to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, each year a different challenge takes centre stage. This year’s theme, Feeding the Future, encouraged us to look at food security globally as well as locally, and we visited Beacon Farms, a local farm where we learned how technology and robotics could be used to increase food production.
Participation in FIRST Global is about more than just robots. It is about collaboration and teamwork, values that are essential in our interconnected world. We learned how to work with each other, trust each other and become part of a truly global community. In fact, it was clear that the best ideas often came from our diverse thoughts and experiences.
In Athens, we represented our nation in the world's most prolific international robotics competition. We served as ambassadors of the Cayman Islands that champion technology, education, culture and collaboration. During the event, we were not just a robotics team; we were our nation and took pride in representing and promoting the Cayman Islands. We also made friends for life. Through meeting team members from 194 different countries around the world, we forged connections that transcended borders and cultures. We were also winners of the social media challenge award for being one of the top teams completing the various challenges.
This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of businesses and the government. We had several opportunities where we met with and presented to Government, including the Deputy Premier, Minister for Sports and Culture and the Governor, before we travelled to Athens.
As we look back on the amazing experience, I want to encourage everyone to embrace this spirit of curiosity and exploration. Take risks, ask questions and don’t shy away from challenges. We have already invited a YMCA summer camp group to visit our team and learn about STEM robotics. The skills we can develop now — critical thinking, creativity and teamwork — are the same skills that will help us to tackle the problems of tomorrow. It’s not just about robotics; it’s about preparing for a future where we can make a real difference. A future we can create that starts right here, right now.
Harry Cowell is a student at Cayman International School and member of the Cayman Islands National Robotics Team.
This article was originally published in the November 2024 print edition of Camana Bay Times.