Source: CNA
The largest robotics festival in Cyprus, "Robotex Cyprus", will take place this June, attracting teams of pupils, students and adults who will compete in different challenges.
Dr. Panicos Masouras, President of the Robotex Cyprus organizing committee and Board Secretary of the Cyprus Computer Society talked to CNA ahead of the Pancyprian robotics competition that is organized by the CCS, based on the standards of the international competition Robotex International of Estonia.
Masouras said that "with the introduction of Robotex in Cyprus in 2017 and with the continued success of Cypriot robotics in both Robotex International and other international robotics events we have managed to place Cyprus on the international map of robotics education," adding that the level of knowledge and skills of the participants is improving every year.
The 5th Pancyprian Robotics Competition will take place from 24 to 26 June 2022, at the Sports Center of the University of Cyprus. Robotex Cyprus 22 is open to pupils, students and adults and participation is free.
Winning teams will be able to participate in Robotex International 2022. Cypriot delegations in the past have returned with many distinctions.
Masouras said that the event aims to attract students in STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), while other goals are the development of 21st-century skills, interdisciplinary analysis and problem solving, the development of a spirit of communication, teamwork and cooperation between pupils/students and teachers/academics and learning basic code principles for solving practical problems.
The event, he noted, usually raises awareness for a particular issue. This year's event will focus on waste management.
Furthermore, he noted that the subject of robotics has been introduced in private schools throughout Cyprus as an interdisciplinary STEAM learning approach, while serious steps are being taken in public education, primary, secondary and technical.
He expressed the view that public education should accelerate the integration of robotics in all levels of education.
"We also call upon the public and private universities to offer specialized undergraduate and postgraduate studies in robotics combined with other cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence," he said.
"The rise of robotic technology in the production and service sectors was expected", according to Mr. Masouras. We now have this technology in the office, in tourism, in citizen service points, in hospitals and in the health sector in general, and even at home.
Registrations can be made by team coaches until May 29th, 2022 at www.robotex.org.cy. The event will be open to the public and the final program will be announced at a later stage.
The event is organized by the Cyprus Computer Society (www.ccs.org.cy) which is an independent, non-profit, professional and scientific organization, co-organized by the University of Cyprus, the Youth Board of Cyprus and the local network of IET Cyprus.
