The World STEM and Robotics Olympiad (WSRO) recently concluded its national finals, leaving a lasting impression of innovation and technical prowess. This year's event saw over 270 regional champion teams from across India, showcasing their talents in various STEM disciplines. Among these teams, young participants from Goa stood out for their impressive achievements and commitment to innovation.
This year’s edition, held in Ahmedabad, featured a wide array of challenges, including robotics competitions like the Lego Line Follower and Jr Robo Race, as well as the Young Scientist category, which encouraged participants to present innovative solutions to societal issues.
For perspective, WSRO is a platform designed to foster interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It aims to encourage students to engage with real-world challenges. Through competitive robotics and various STEM-related events, the Olympiad offers an opportunity for young minds to apply their classroom knowledge in practical, creative ways.
Goa’s teams made a significant impact at the event. Among the most notable participants were two young innovators, Vedang Anay Kamat from Saraswat Vidyalaya and Rajvi Vishwanath Marathe from Laxmibai Sanzgiri Memorial Primary School in Sankhali. Both just eight years old, these budding engineers managed to secure the Judges' Choice Award in two categories: the Lego Line Follower and the Junior Robo Race. Their exceptional performance across four events — Line Follower, Lego Line Follower, Junior Robo Race, and the Junior Drone Challenge — marked them as standouts in the competition.
Competing against 20 teams in the Lego Line Follower and 29 teams in the Junior Robo Race, Vedang and Rajvi demonstrated a remarkable level of dedication, teamwork, and creativity. The Judges' Choice Awards they received were a reflection of their innovative approach to problem-solving in robotics, setting a high standard for other young participants.
Beyond their technical skills, the team’s ability to participate in multiple events speaks volumes about their commitment to learning and improving. Their mentors, Maya and Anay Kamat, noted that the duo had spent months preparing for the Olympiad, honing their coding skills and perfecting their designs. Their effort culminated in their success at the national finals, making them young role models for aspiring roboticists in Goa and beyond.
Another Goan team that made headlines was the sibling duo of Ronav Chodankar, aged 11, and Ariana Chodankar, aged 6, from Sharada Mandir School. This dynamic brother-sister team also earned the Judges' Choice Award, this time in the Young Scientist category. Their project, the Ekatraa platform, was designed to bridge gaps in healthcare services, particularly in rural areas. Through their survey of healthcare workers
and patients, Ronav and Ariana identified
disparities in healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities.
The Ekatraa platform, which integrates modern technologies like HTML, virtual reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), real-time monitoring, and Arduino systems, aims to address these issues by connecting rural healthcare systems to technology-based solutions. This sustainable and innovative approach earned them recognition among more than 30 competing teams. Their project stood out not just for its technical sophistication but also for its potential to create a meaningful social impact.
Ronav and Ariana’s mentors, led by their mother and mentor, Dr Deepa Naik Chodankar, highlighted the importance of involving children in problem-solving from a young age. "It’s incredible to see how much passion they bring to their work, and how committed they are to making a difference," she said.
The World STEM and Robotics Olympiad has emerged as a key platform for promoting STEM education across India. Through events like the Lego Line Follower, the Jr Robo Race, the Young Scientist track, and the Drone Challenge, students are encouraged to develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. The competition itself covers a broad spectrum of technical fields, including robotics, coding, engineering design, and scientific research.
This year's event in Ahmedabad showcased the immense talent emerging from India’s student community. From the 270 participating teams, many innovative projects caught the attention of judges and spectators alike, underscoring the rising interest in STEM education nationwide. The inclusion of Goan teams among the top awardees highlighted the state's growing prominence in the field of robotics and innovation.
The path to the national finals was not easy for the participating Goan teams. They first had to compete in the regional rounds, which were held earlier this year in Goa. The WSRO Goa regional event, organized by PRATHAM Robotics Club in association with Legogoa, Qurious Minds, and Saraswat Education Society, took place at Campal Indoor Stadium in Panjim two months ago. The event featured more than 90 teams, including participants from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The success of these Goan teams at the regional level earned them their spot in the national finals.
The national WSRO finals concluded with the Goan participants receiving widespread praise for their achievements, as well as their innovative ideas. The awards received by Vedang, Rajvi, Ronav, and Ariana reflect not only their technical prowess but also their commitment to using STEM education to solve real-world problems.