LigerBots at the FRC World Championship

Accomplishments

The LigerBots, Newton’s dual-high-school FIRST Robotics team, traveled to Houston April 17-20 to compete in the FIRST World Championship — an international competition that caps the FIRST robotics competition season. This was the first time in six years that the LigerBots had qualified for “the Worlds” — joining 600 other teams from 58 countries.

The LigerBots qualified for the FIRST Championship by exceling in tough qualifying events and the New England District Championship:

  • At the Greater Boston Event, the team won the FIRST Impact Award, the most prestigious award in FIRST.
  • In the New England District Championship, the LigerBots with their two alliance partners scored the highest number of points in the whole competition.

At the FIRST World Championship, the LigerBots achieved 6th place out of 75 teams in the Johnson division qualifying rounds, which qualified the team to be a 5th seed alliance captain in the playoffs. They formed an alliance with teams from Bolton (MA), Laurens (SC), and Australia. In fiercely competitive matches, their alliance emerged victorious in several rounds and unfortunately concluded with two close losses.

While in Houston, the LigerBots explored the event’s Innovation Expo full of booths from colleges and leading technology companies, with opportunities to interact with a 3D milling machine and to try welding on a high-tech simulator. Some team members took on roles as FIRST student ambassadors, guiding VIP guests around the venue, while others volunteered to reset fields or served as judges in different divisions. Some explored NASA’s Johnson Space Center while others visited Houston’s aquarium.

Congratulations to all LigerBots students and coaches for an impressive year of dedication, achievement, and fun.

Many thanks to LigerBots student leader Davis for providing essential information for this article, which originally appeared in Fig City News.

MITES Symposiums: High-school students present their work, May 4

Accomplishments, Events

MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering & Science (MITES) provides transformative experiences to bolster confidence, create lifelong community, and build foundations in STEM for highly motivated students in Grades 7-12 from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds in Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence. More than 100 MITES students will be presenting their final projects on May 4, 10AM-3PM, at the Stata Center (MIT Building 32, Vassar Street, Cambridge). Please register by April 29 to assist planning. Areas of focus:

  • 7th grade: Engineering Design
  • 8th grade: Environmental Engineering
  • 9th grade: Architecture
  • 10th grade: Robotics
  • 11th grade: Biological Engineering
  • 12th grade: Engineering Design

MassBay Student STEM Expo in person May 8, virtually May 6-10

Accomplishments, Events

MassBay Community College will hold its Student STEM Expo on Wednesday, May 8, 1PM-2PM in the Wellesley Hills campus cafeteria (50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills), and virtually May 6 – 10. Students will showcase their STEM work to the MassBay community, local STEM professionals, and the general public.

Online visitors can watch prerecorded videos from individual students and student teams. Viewers may leave comments and ask questions, and students will answer  incoming inquiries and engage in conversations with visitors about their projects.

Broad Discovery Series: From “hit-or-miss” for psychiatric diagnosis and care, May 21

Events

The next presentation in Broad Institute’s Broad Discovery Series of free, public lectures will be on May 21, 6PM-7PM at the Broad Institute Auditorium + Lobby (415 Main Street, Cambridge). The topic will be Moving from “hit-or-miss” toward a brighter future for psychiatric diagnosis and care. Scientists from the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research will join peers and family members from the community to discuss how genetics and biology are shaping an improved understanding of psychiatric conditions, how that might address community concerns, and what it could mean for diagnosis and care now and in the future. Register here.

This talk will be held both in person and virtually. Those attending in person are invited to a reception with refreshments in the Broad Discovery Center following the talk.

LigerBots win top FRC award at Greater Boston Competition

Accomplishments

At FIRST Robotics’ Greater Boston Competition this weekend, the LigerBots, Newton’s dual high school robotics team, showed their star power in the spotlight. This event —  the LigerBots’ second New England District Qualifier — was held over two intense days at Revere High School, with 61 qualifying rounds on Saturday and remaining qualifying rounds, playoffs, and award announcements on Sunday.

From success in the qualifying rounds, the LigerBots were named captain of Alliance 5 for the playoffs, choosing to collaborate with Lobstah Bots and Wolverines as alliance partners. Overall, the LigerBots are now ranked 23th out of 185 teams in New England and have qualified for the upcoming New England District Championship in Springfield.
At this event, the LigerBots also won FIRST Impact Award, the most prestigious award in FIRST, which provides invitations for the entire team to compete in Springfield.
Coach Igor of the LigerBots was named a semi-finalist for the Woodie Flowers Award and will compete for the final award in the New England District Championship at Springfield.
After the matches in Revere, the LigerBots are excited to continue to play strong in upcoming competitions.

Edgerton Center Teams Showcase, Apr. 9

Events

MIT’s Edgerton Center will host the Edgerton Teams Showcase on April 9, 4PM-5PM, in Lobby 13 (77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge), where 16 student teams will present their current projects. The MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team will unveil its latest creation, Gemini, and the MIT Motorsports Team will unveil its MY2024 race car. For more information, email Peggy at peysenba@mit.edu. Participating teams:

Arcturus (Roboboat), AssistiveTechnology Club, ChemE Cube, Combat RoboticsClub, Design Build Fly, Electric Vehicle Team, First NationsLaunch,  MIT Radio Society WIMX, MITERS, Motorsports,  Robotics Team, Rocket Team, Solar Electric Vehicle Team, Spokes, Sustainable Engine Team, Wind Team

Acton-Boxborough Math Competition, in person and online, Apr. 6

Events

The Acton-Boxborough Math Competition (ABMC) will take place on April 6, 8AM-2PM, at R.J. Grey Junior High School (16 Charter Road, Acton). It’s a Mathcounts-style competition open to students in Grades K-8, competing individually or in teams of 2-4. Register online  as an individual competitor, a pre-registered team, or an individual to be randomly assigned to a team. The cost is $20 if registered online or $25 if registered in-person at the competition.

Prizes are awarded to high-scoring individuals and teams. ABMC will also host a free online contest with the same format as the on-site contest, but online contestants are not eligible for prizes and will be ranked separately.

The difficulty of problems ranges from beginner to Mathcounts National-level. They are written by former Mathcounts competitors, including JMO and AMO qualifiers. The event is an opportunity to compete against some of the best competitors from around the area. The 2023 ABMC drew nearly 200 competitors.
For more information, email contact@abmathcompetitions.org.

Acera School Math Festival in Winchester, Apr. 7

Events

Acera School (5 Lowell Ave, Winchester) will host its Math Festival on Sunday, April 7, 10AM to 12PM for students in Grades K-12. It’s a free event of math and logic-themed games designed to inspire creative reasoning and collaborative problem-solving. Parents/guardians with their kids are all welcome — and invited to bring friends. Register online.

Math challenges include: Algebra on Squares, Chocolate Fix, Game of Amazons, Hexahexaflexagons, Jumping Frogs, Jumping Julia, Mosaics, Rook’s Move, Skyscrapers, and Tower of Hanoi.

LigerBots excel in first qualifying match of the season

Accomplishments

From Newton North HS Senior Davis R: This weekend, the LigerBots, Newton’s dual-high-school robotics team, finished strongly at Bridgewater State University for their first New England District Qualifier. After two fierce days of competition and overcoming a series of technical challenges, the team placed as a finalist out of 36 teams. In addition, the LigerBots won the Engineering Inspiration Award.

This is only the beginning. Tomorrow, the LigerBots will be back in the shop, taking lessons from the competition to make strategic improvements. This will prepare them for the next competition, the New England District Greater Boston Event in two weeks on March 23-24.

NOTE: FIRST Robotics says: “The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award.”