OSC students impress at World Robot Olympiad 2024

Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first school in Sri Lanka to compete in the prestigious World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2024. During the prestigious global event, the two teams representing OSC were honoured with silver awards.

Held at Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore, WRO 2024 revolved around the theme Earth Allies, focusing on the deep connection between humans and nature. Earth Allies looked at how humans affect nature, and how natural events can affect humanity. It emphasised on how robots can assist and help humans to live in harmony with nature. The theme also challenged students to explore how robotics can mitigate human impact on the environment and assist in creating eco-friendly solutions for future sustainable living.

With a strong focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, the WRO competition emphasises critical thinking, problem-solving, and building connections with innovative and progressive schools and communities worldwide. OSC’s entry into the ‘Future Innovators’ category was a natural fit, aligning seamlessly with the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum that fosters research, innovative design, and resource management.

To prepare for this competition, six OSC students (comprised of Middle and High School learners) were selected to form two teams. The students met consistently after school from October 2023 to September 2024 to develop their projects. The first OSC team, comprised of Millan, Arnav, and Ethan, tackled a critical environmental issue prevalent in Sri Lanka – Waste Mismanagement. Their project focused on building a robot designed to segregate general waste into programmed bins. By integrating colour sensors and a streamlined system, their robot aimed to make a practical impact on landfills and garbage sites, optimising recycling processes and minimising waste. This innovative approach offers significant potential for waste reduction efforts in Sri Lanka and beyond, addressing ongoing environmental challenges.

The second team, made up of Aran, Senaka, and Cohen, concentrated on water quality, particularly in regions lacking access to safe drinking water.