IET: UK team named First Place Champions at Lego League World Festival

The group of Bath students who won the UK National First Lego League (FLL) final have gone on to win first place at the FLL World Festival in the USA.

Eighty teams from across the world were present at the event, which took place last week (April 24-27) in St. Louis, Missouri. The winning team from the UK, ‘Untitled-1’ impressed the judges with their doorbell fingerprint scanner; an invention for elderly people to see who is at their front door before opening it.

Made up of four girls and three boys from Ralph Allen School and King Edward’s School in Bath, Untitled-1 were named Champions of the UK leg of the tournament in January, which was run by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Over 21,000 schools took part in the tournament across the world.

One member of Untitled-1, Claudia Moorhouse, said: “I loved every second. When we won I was the happiest person on the planet. I didnt want to get my hopes up when the judges got interested in us so I was not expecting it.”

Her teammate, Freya Alder, added: ”We want to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and use it to make FLL as big in the UK as it is in America.”

Ahmed Kotb, FIRST LEGO League Project Manager at the IET, said: “Big congratulations are due to the Untitled-1 team from Bath, who have worked really hard in the run up to the World Festival.  Over 29,000 teams took part across the world and to be recognised for all their hard work is just a dream come true for them!

“A big part of what we do at the IET is encouraging young people to study science and technology subjects and to consider careers in engineering.  This is our first year as Operational Partner for the FIRST LEGO League competition here in the UK and what a start!  FIRST LEGO League is such a great way to get young people interested in engineering and we encourage more schools to get involved.”

Schools seeking to get involved in the new season of FIRST LEGO League will be able to register by mid-May 2013 via firstlegoleague.co.uk. In the 2013 Nature's Fury Challenge, children aged 9-16 will explore the awe-inspiring storms, quakes, waves and other natural disasters. Teams will discover what can be done when intense natural events meet the places people live, work, and play.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

More information can be found at firstlegoleague.co.uk
IET Spokespeople are available for interviews
First Lego League is a global science and technology competition to encourage an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Follow First Lego League UK and the IET on Twitter: @FLLUK / @TheIET
The IET supports teachers of STEM to inspire students to study these subjects and to consider engineering as a career.
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is a registered trademark.