Mexico is set to host the 13th edition of the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in 2024, with national organizer Jorge Hernández Huerta emphasizing the importance of democratizing robotics and promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) education among children. The WRO aims to increase the involvement of girls and adolescents, as their participation in previous Olympiads has been only at 30 percent.
Hernández Huerta highlighted the significance of encouraging the participation of girls and young people in these disciplines to address existing gender disparities. He stressed that providing children with experiences in various fields can lay the foundation for their future career choices and empower them early on. The WRO, which originated in Asia in 2004 and aligns with Mexico’s mission to introduce children to robotics and other technology-related fields from a young age, has been pivotal in promoting learning opportunities in these areas over the past 12 years.
Mexico has made significant strides in introducing children as young as five years old to robotics and STEAM education. The WRO boasts over 95 affiliated countries and a community of more than 75,000 students globally and offers various categories for teams of children and young people aged 8 to 19 to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges using STEAM and robotics. The competition’s theme changes yearly, with this year focusing on “Allies of the Earth.” Teams of 2 or 3 participants, guided by a coach, will design, build, and program a robot model capable of completing challenges aligned with the competition’s theme. Registration information, rules, and details can be found on the WRO website. The tournament will have qualifying rounds between May and July, culminating in the national final in September and the international final in Turkey in November.