Rashid Bin Hamdan Engages With Hamdan Centre Team Before FLL World Finals In Houston

The Hamdan Bin Rashid Center for Giftedness and Innovation's student team is set to represent the UAE at the FLL World Finals in Houston, USA, next week. Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, Supreme President of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, met with them to celebrate their achievement. The team advanced to this global stage after excelling in local and national robotics championships.

Sheikh Rashid's meeting with the students took place at the Foundation’s headquarters in Dubai. Aisha Miran, Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), and Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Foundation, were also present. During this visit, Sheikh Rashid expressed immense pride in their success and praised their dedication. He encouraged them to continue striving for honourable results that reflect the scientific ambition of the UAE's youth.

This year’s national FLL competitions saw participation from 169 teams across the Emirates. The competition unfolded over two stages, with 40 teams reaching the final round to vie for the national championship. Participants were evaluated on robot programming and design, innovative engineering projects related to marine life preservation, and values like teamwork and creativity.

The Hamdan Centre team excelled at both local and national levels. They secured second place in the Champion’s Award category locally and first place in both Robot Game and Robot Design categories. Nationally, they claimed the Champion’s Award along with second place in the Robot Game category.

The programme organisers highlighted that this year's theme focused on marine life preservation. This required participants to showcase innovative engineering projects aligned with this theme while demonstrating teamwork and creativity. The competition assessed participants across four main areas: robot programming, design, innovative projects, and core values.

Team members expressed pride in their achievements as they prepare for the global finals. They are committed to further developing their skills and refining strategies for presenting their project before an esteemed panel of international judges.

Sheikh Rashid commended their efforts in qualifying for international representation. "Your dedication is commendable," he stated during his interaction with them. He wished them continued success as they aim to bring honourable results back home.

The students' enthusiasm is palpable as they gear up for this prestigious event. Their commitment to innovation reflects not only personal ambition but also a broader representation of UAE's scientific capabilities on a global platform.

With inputs from WAM