Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Education, is actively participating in the FIRST Global Challenge 2025 in Panama City, Republic of Panama. The event, which continues until 1 November, involves over 190 countries worldwide.
According to Oman News Agency, Oman is being represented by a national team of three students who earned their place in the international competition from schools in A’Dakhiliyah Governorate. The team consists of Ziyad Zakariya Al Ismaili of Sheikh Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Kindi School, Al Khalil Ahmed Al Aufi from Bilarab bin Sultan School, and Al Khalil Ibrahim Al Kindi from Abi Obaidah School. Supervised by Ibrahim Eid Al Balushi from the Department of Innovation and Scientific Olympiad, the team is led by trainer Ahmed Saif Al Aufi from the Directorate General of Education in A’Dakhiliyah.
The national team dedicated two months to studying and analyzing this year’s competition challenge, crafting innovative strategies to perform tasks with precision. Their efforts included designing, building, and programming a robot based on a comprehensive technical plan created by the team members, leveraging their skills in programming and control.
This initiative is part of the Ministry of Education’s strategy to foster a culture of innovation in education and enhance students’ skills in science, engineering, and artificial intelligence. It aligns with “Oman Vision 2040,” which aims to prepare a generation of innovators contributing to a knowledge-based economy rooted in innovation and technology.
The theme for this year’s competition is the protection of biodiversity. Student teams are tasked with designing robots that operate in an arena simulating the preservation of natural systems vital for human and planetary health. This initiative aims to enhance youth awareness regarding ecological diversity’s significance.
The competition is recognized as a major international contest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). It serves as a global platform, akin to the Olympics, held in a different country annually. This effort underscores the role of science and technology in addressing significant environmental and developmental issues.
The event aims to empower students to harness their scientific and innovative skills to build robots that undertake engineering tasks reflecting contemporary global challenges. It also seeks to foster understanding and cooperation among the world’s youth, inspiring the next generation to tackle planetary challenges through innovative scientific and technological solutions.
FIRST Global stresses the importance of making science and technology exciting and motivating for young people worldwide, contributing to inspiring two billion young individuals globally to pursue academic and career paths in STEM fields, thereby preparing them to become future leaders capable of devising innovative solutions to the challenges confronting our planet.