3 min.
From primary school to research centres and large enterprises: the robotics system meet tomorrow, March 16th, in Rome to undersign the memorandum of understanding promoting technological culture and research in schools. Moreover, the finals of RomeCup 2011 will feature dancers, explorers, rescuers and soccer players, not to mention humanoid robots, in the Campidoglio's Protomoteca Hall. An aquarium with robotic fish will be installed in the Piazza del Campidoglio.
The average school drop out rate in Italy is 19.2%, well above the European average (14.4%). High school drop out rates after the first year are at 12.3%. Nearly 26,000 enrollments have been “lost” over the past four years. Only 32.8% of university students graduate from their course degree as opposed to an OECD average of 38%. Science laureates are less than 3%. Education robotics is capable of inverting this trend and facing the economic, industrial, occupational and social challenges afflicting Italy. It is the firm belief of the 36 signatories of the first network agreement for the development of a national strategy for educational robotics promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale. The signatories include public agencies, universities, schools, foundations and associations, renowned international technology companies and sector organisations. The protocol entails short, medium and long-term (10 yrs.) actions that bring together all the players in Italian robotics. This synergic action will allow to organize the many opportunities provided by robotics, from primary school to industry and the job market. The objective is to orient students towards scientific careers and at the same time create a connection with industry and robotics services to satisfy the need for personnel with advanced scientific competencies.
The signature of the memorandum is the main novelty of the 5th edition of the RomeCup, International City of Rome Robotics Trophy that has broadened the traditional three-events-in-one formula (competitions, exhibition area and conference) with didactic laboratories for schools and workshops for teachers.
The competitions of the International City of Rome Robotics Trophy amongst schools took place over two days in the soccer, dance and rescue categories, including the national selections for RoboCup Junior, the World Robotics Championship, in the soccer and dance categories. At the same time, the second edition of the Robocup Mediterranean Open international competition amongst university teams took place. Tomorrow, 9 awards will be presented at the Campidoglio, one for each category.
The exhibition area has showcased educational and service robotics with various experiences of excellence and 14 didactic laboratories that involved over 2000 students. A new fascinating surprise is ready for tomorrow: an aquarium animated by robotic fish (in the photo) set up in collaboration with Clax Italia, Scuola Superiore S. Anna di Pisa, Università Campus Biomedico di Roma and the Mediterraneum-Acquario di Roma.
The 5th edition of the RomeCup has been organized with the support of STMicroelectronics, in partnership with Enea and in collaboration with Intel and Clax Italia.
