University of Arkansas Pine Bluff

The Golden Lions Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) Robotics (GLBR) competition is set to begin at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Faculty, staff, engineers and other technical professionals from local industries will volunteer to serve as team mentors who will advise and guide students through the design and construction of their machines.

All scheduled activities will be held in the Kenneth L. Johnson Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) complex and begin with a Kick Off on October 3 at 11:00 a.m. Demo Day is set for November 7 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Competition/Game Day on November 14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Demo and Game day is free and open to the public.

Each school will be provided with kits of equipment and parts, a set of game rules and given six weeks to design, build, and test a small Radio/Controlled (R/C) robot that outperforms other robots. Winning teams from the GLBR competition will advance to the regional championship December 5, 2009.

Two parallel areas of competition will be featured:

 • A robotics game, which is based upon the annual theme (producing high octane fuel) with four teams competing at once in a series of three-minute, round-robin matches.
• The BEST Award will be presented to the team that successfully embodies the concept of Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology. Elements include a project summary notebook, oral presentation, table display, spirit and sportsmanship.

Attributes of the competition will include: enhancing teaching/teacher effectiveness; reinforcing classroom learning; creating real-world academic challenge; increasing students’ interest in and understanding of engineering and science; exposing students to new career opportunities; providing competition/fun and promoting school spirit and sense of community.

The Golden Lions BEST Robotics program is a volunteer-based program whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science and engineering-based robotics competition. GLBR has also accepted eight middle schools and high schools to participate for the fall 2009 competition. There is no fee for schools to compete in the GLBR competition.

Students’ benefits include understanding of technical concepts and scientific principles; acquiring real-world engineering experience with limited resources; reinforcement of project management concepts with constrained time period; encouragement with abstract thought, self-directed learning, and problem solving; promotion of team building, good sportsmanship, leadership, and ethical conduct; and pride.

For more information, contact Felicia Webb at (870) 575-8876.