In Mexico, the national organizer of the 13th edition of the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in 2024, Jorge Hernández Huerta, highlighted the importance of democratizing robotics and promoting STEAM education for children. At a press conference announcing the WRO, he emphasized the significance of encouraging girls and young people to participate in these disciplines to bridge existing gender gaps in STEM fields.
The goal of the WRO is to increase participation among girls and adolescents, who currently represent only 30 percent of participants. By providing appropriate spaces and tools and fostering talent from a young age, the competition aims to empower children and offer them training opportunities to become qualified human capital for the future.
Early exposure to various activities is crucial for a young person’s development of interests and career paths. In Mexico, efforts have been made over the past 12 years to introduce children as young as five to robotics and STEAM education. The WRO aligns with these educational objectives, bringing children closer to robotics and technology.
The WRO is a themed competition where teams of children and teenagers between eight and nineteen solve real-world problems using STEAM principles and robotics. The competition comprises four categories based on age groups, with participants guided by a coach. The aim is to design, build, program a robot that completes challenges based on the theme of the competition.
Registration for the WRO is open via email at wromexico.org, with more than 32 teams already registered across twelve states in Mexico. There will be no participation fee this year due to Fundesteam’s support. The WRO fosters education, innovation, and technology among youth, with its impact strengthening across Latin America since 2022. Future competitions will take place between May and July leading up to an international final in Turkey in November
