MS Robotics Wins best Project [video]
Source/Author: Raffi Darrow, Ebytes Editor
February 23, 2018
The Middle School Robotics team, INFOBOTS, returned victorious from their First LEGO League Tournament with the prize for Best Project. First LEGO League introduces students aged 9-16 to the fun and excitement of science and technology. In addition to building and programming working robots for challenges, students are tasked with solving a real-world problem and presenting their project to judges.
This year's challenge revolved around the theme Hydrodynamics. The INFOBOTS had to create an environmental project that would improve how we find, transfer, use or dispose of water. The Chargers decided to research microfibers that enter our water system. As a primary source, they interviewed biological oceanographer Dr. Amy Siuda, an Assistant Professor of Marine Science at Eckerd College who studies plankton-microplastic interactions.
The INFOBOTS eventually created The Hydro Brick, a device used in clothes washers and dryers to gather microfibers from clothing, keeping the fibers out of our water.
In addition to highlighting and solving a problem, the team had to share the problem and solution with others. They prepared talking points and a display board with information about their new, helpful product.
Eighth grader Zara P. has been part of the Middle School robotics program at Shorecrest for four years. She was the only returning teammate, and took on a leadership role, guiding her teammates through the tournament process.
“It feels good to know our research and what we’ve created and what we came up with is actually being identified in a way, and that we have something to show for it.” Zara said about leaving with a trophy from the tournament.
![MS Awards Assembly [Photos, Video]](/Images/1px.png?command_1=url&url_1=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shorecrest.org/userfiles/shpsv2mvc/images/news-images/2025/msawards.JPG&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "MS Awards Assembly [Photos, Video]")
