HKUST-ExxonMobil iSTEAM Program 2024 Promotes STEAM Education among 150 Students and Teachers

Around 150 students and teachers from 15 primary and secondary schools joined the “HKUST-ExxonMobil iSTEAM Program 2024 – Smartbot Sports Day” on November 9, 2024 to gain hands-on robotics experience while developing collaboration skills and leadership capabilities. This event was organized by the Center for Global & Community Engagement at the HKUST School of Engineering and supported by ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited.

The event began with an inspiring opening ceremony to welcome all participants. During the ceremony, Ms. Mabel LEUNG, Asia Pacific Fuels Sales Director of ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, and Mr. Tony KWOK, HK and Macau Fuels Sales Director of ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, shared ExxonMobil’s business in Hong Kong and its commitment to promoting youth education in STEAM fields. They highlighted the crucial role of STEAM education in nurturing tomorrow’s leaders and urged students to continuously pursue their passions and cultivate their talents.

Following the ceremony, participants engaged in workshops led by HKUST undergraduates, focusing on robotics and STEAM topics like micro:bit, robot structure, and block programming. Participants were organized into 60 teams. Thirty teams constructed a fencing robot, while the other 30 teams constructed a weightlifting robot. These robots would then compete in inter-team challenges.

Before the games, participants also took a campus tour led by HKUST students and visited the HKUST “mushroom” (a mushroom-shaped entrance to an observation deck with the University’s sea view), Engineering Commons and sundial.

In the inter-team games, there were different competitions for fencing robots and weightlifting robots. In the fencing robot competition, the format was a 1v1 battle. The fencing robots needed to use their nail (representing a fencer’s sword) to hit the opponent’s copper plate. If it hit, a beep sound would be generated and a cross would be displayed at the opponent robot’s micro:bit card. On the other hand, in the weightlifting robot competition, the robots needed to carry as many beads and marbles as possible. The robot which carried the most would be the winner.

The award presentation ceremony for the HKUST-ExxonMobil iSTEAM Program 2024 took place at the end of the day. Prof. Tim WOO, Director of the Center for Global & Community Engagement at the HKUST School of Engineering, addressed the audience, encouraging students to pursue their passions and view learning as a gateway to new opportunities. He expressed gratitude to all participating schools and underscored the importance of collaboration and teamwork in robotics. He said that the event aimed to broaden students’ knowledge of robotics while fostering appreciation for their peers’ efforts. Furthermore, he noted that the event cultivated a community of aspiring engineers and innovators ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

The winners are as follows:

Fencing Robot Competition

Weightlifting Robot Competition