The Dhahran Ahlyia Schools (DAS) student robotics team, representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and sponsored by Zamil Industrial Investment Company "Zamil Industrial", was second in the ‘Best Robot Design Award’ at the ‘FIRST LEGO League Open European Championships 2011’. The team also achieved the Second Place Teamwork Award in the overall tournament championship ranking. This year’s Saudi team also gained the distinction of being the first team ever to win two awards in this competition since its inception in 1998.

The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Robot championship is considered the most prestigious among educational robotics competitions. Students between 9 – 16 years of age compete by designing, building and programming their robots to execute special tasks. The objective of FIRST LEGO league competition is the integration of science (mathematics, physics, engineering and electronics) into the context of educational fun by using LEGO Mindstorm kits to build and program robots capable of performing specific simple or complex tasks. The Four Tournament Challenges – table performance, technical interview, presentation to judges and teamwork observation – are scored by a panel of judges and winners are chosen.

DAS schools participated this year with five teams. One team achieved first place in the Eastern Region finals and went on to capture first place in the country wide competition and to represent the Kingdom at the World Championship Finals in Delft, Netherlands.

Overall, the program aims to spread and strengthen the robot and technology culture in schools and local communities, as well as to support the science, math and technology curriculums in schools. Participation in this competition stimulates students to develop scientific competencies, as it is designed to create an environment conducive to the renaissance of technology. The event attracts and trains students interested in science and technology, and opens future career prospects for students as they prepare to work as scientists, engineers and staff capable of solving problems using advanced technology.

The robotics competition was held in Saudi Arabia this year in two stages: first, teams from a large number of public and private schools and student clubs from various cities in the Kingdom competed in local tournaments, and winners then proceeded to compete in the Kingdom-wide tournaments. Male and female students from across the Kingdom participated in the elimination championship that took place in Abha during March 2011 with the participation of 26 teams.

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