The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Hosts the Nebraska Robotics Expo
The Largest Robotics Competition in the State and Region
ASHLAND, NE (February 10, 2017) The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum will host the Eighth Annual Nebraska Robotics Expo on Saturday, February 18, 2017. Over 800 K-12 Nebraska students, team leaders and math and science teachers will gather for this extraordinary robotics event that brings together two robotics competitions, the CEENBoT Robotics Showcase and FIRST LEGO League (FLL), and the Creative Visual Arts Expo for a day of robotics inspiration in a historic venue. Nebraska Lt. Governor Mike Foley will headline this year’s Opening Ceremonies.
“This is a celebration of in-school and after-school student work with robotics,” says Deb Hermann, Director of Marketing at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. “The Nebraska Robotics Expo encourages student involvement with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as well as educates and engages our next generation of innovators, their families and the general public about STEM opportunities in Nebraska. This is truly one of our biggest days at the Museum as we are anticipating over 2,000 visitors for this event.”
The CEENBoT Showcase will host an impressive group of teams with over 95 teams from 26 Nebraska Elementary, Middle and High Schools. It is the ninth season for the Showcase that uses a Nebraska-created CEENBoT robot in its events. This year’s six competitive Showcase events have the theme of “CEENBoT™ Carnival.”
FIRST LEGO League will host 48 teams. In the 2016 FIRST LEGO League ANIMAL ALLIESTM Challenge, more than 233,000 children ages 9 to 16 from over 80 countries will explore the fascinating world of trash. From collection, to sorting, to smart production and reuse, there is more to your trash than meets the eye.
“The public is invited to play as well,” explains Alisa Gilmore, Nebraska Robotics Expo & CEENBoT Robotics Showcase Director. “One of the highlights of our event is the CEENBoT Games. The young as well as the young at heart are encouraged to participate in activities such as CEENBoT Tae Kwon Do, Minute to Win It, Driving Maze, Bumpbot Mode, Precision Driving, and more.”
“The Nebraska Robotics Expo is the result of a collaboration of leaders within the University of Nebraska system,” says Gilmore. “It includes leadership by faculty and staff of the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Education, faculty and staff within the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and faculty and staff of the UNL 4-H Extension. The Expo is made possible by generous local corporate sponsorships, including Union Pacific and OPPD, and by seed monies from local nonprofit organizations, such as Prairie STEM.”
Opening Ceremonies will take place at 8:30am in the lower Atrium of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.