WORCESTER—Worcester Polytechnic Institute welcomes more than 1,000 student innovators from around the world this weekend as it hosts the third annual WAFFLE—short for WPI Annual FIRST LEGO League Event.
The international youth robotics competition, taking place Friday through Sunday, June 13–15, brings together 108 FIRST LEGO League teams from 40 U.S. states and 30 countries. Designed to foster creativity, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving through robotics, WAFFLE is considered a major celebration of the global STEM education movement.
Organizers say the event is not only about engineering, but about collaboration and connection. “Hosting this robotics competition reflects WPI’s deep and longstanding commitment to inspiring the next generation of innovators through hands-on STEM learning,” said Nicholas Greeley of WPI’s Robotics Resource Center, who is a lead organizer of the event, in a university announcement.
WPI, an early academic partner of the FIRST program, has helped lead national efforts to grow interest in science and engineering among K-12 students through robotics-based education. According to the school, the partnership with FIRST began nearly 30 years ago.
The weekend kicks off Friday evening with opening ceremonies, including a parade of nations and remarks from Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST and a WPI alumnus. Additional speakers include Arne Gerike, WPI dean of undergraduate studies. Competitive robot matches take place on Saturday, followed by an awards ceremony on Sunday.
Events will be held across WPI’s campus, including Harrington Auditorium, the Sports and Recreation Center, and Alden Memorial. Organizers are expecting large crowds and say the weekend offers strong opportunities for compelling visuals and interviews with students, mentors, and international guests.
Go here for all the information you could possibly need to attend the event.
