11/02/16

Nigerian girls build robots to tackle waste

Pupils from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse work on their science project aimed at extracting harmful chemicals from non-biodegradable waste and turning the rest into fuel. Fifteen-year-old Audam Peace (far left) wants to become a gynaecologist. She says determination matters most to achieving any goal

Jon Spaull

To turn waste into useful recycled substances, the girls set up a condenser that will turn gases into liquids that can be used for energy production

Jon Spaull

Pupils from Junior Secondary School Area 11 with their solar power project, demonstrating how solar cells can power household fittings, including a fan and light bulb. Uhegbu Ljeoma (far left) says the project opened her eyes to the world of science. She is now determined to pursue a career in technology

Jon Spaull

A pupil wires a solar cell, an important element within the science project her class is carrying out on domestic solar power

Jon Spaull

Stella Uzochukwu-Denis from the Odyssey Educational Foundation shows girls from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse how to build a robot. The foundation hosted the First Lego League challenge, in Abuja. In this competition, students programmed Lego robots donated by the toy firm to achieve a waste-based goal

Jon Spaull

The First Lego League challenge involves technical skills as well as creativity. As the robot takes shape, the girls learn to carefully follow instructions while also making their creation unique to impress the judges

Jon Spaull

The participants put Lego pieces in position for the First Lego League Trash Trek challenge. This involves programming a robot to pick up and then drop off pieces of rubbish on a playing area

Jon Spaull

Two girls work on the Trash Trek challenge. The First Lego League brings research challenges facing today’s scientists to schools all over the world. Pupils must embrace critical thinking and team work, and are empowered by heling to solve real-life problems

Jon Spaull

Sixteen-year-old Lawal Alaifan Karimah makes sure the robot is programmed correctly so that it moves across the board picking up garbage and dropping it off in the correct places. She says that a girl can do whatever a boy can

Jon Spaull

The robot has to be precisely aligned so that it picks up the garbage firmly

Jon Spaull

A programmed robot moves across the playing area to collect garbage

Jon Spaull

By: Jon Spaull

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<div class="article-wrap">
<div id="article-introduction">
<h1>Nigerian girls build robots to tackle waste</h1>
<h4>By: Jon Spaull</h4>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="article-img-gallery" id="image-gallery"><div class="owl-carousel"><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_01.jpg' alt='Pupils from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse work on their science project aimed at extracting harmful chemicals from non-biodegradable waste and turning the rest into fuel. Fifteen-year-old Audam Peace (far left) wants to become a gynaecologist. She says determination matters most to achieving any goal
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_01.jpg' alt='Pupils from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse work on their science project aimed at extracting harmful chemicals from non-biodegradable waste and turning the rest into fuel. Fifteen-year-old Audam Peace (far left) wants to become a gynaecologist. She says determination matters most to achieving any goal
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_01.jpg' alt='Pupils from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse work on their science project aimed at extracting harmful chemicals from non-biodegradable waste and turning the rest into fuel. Fifteen-year-old Audam Peace (far left) wants to become a gynaecologist. She says determination matters most to achieving any goal
'></noscript></noscript><p>Pupils from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse work on their science project aimed at extracting harmful chemicals from non-biodegradable waste and turning the rest into fuel. Fifteen-year-old Audam Peace (far left) wants to become a gynaecologist. She says determination matters most to achieving any goal</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_02.jpg' alt='To turn waste into useful recycled substances, the girls set up a condenser that will turn gases into liquids that can be used for energy production
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_02.jpg' alt='To turn waste into useful recycled substances, the girls set up a condenser that will turn gases into liquids that can be used for energy production
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_02.jpg' alt='To turn waste into useful recycled substances, the girls set up a condenser that will turn gases into liquids that can be used for energy production
'></noscript></noscript><p>To turn waste into useful recycled substances, the girls set up a condenser that will turn gases into liquids that can be used for energy production</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_03.jpg' alt='Pupils from Junior Secondary School Area 11 with their solar power project, demonstrating how solar cells can power household fittings, including a fan and light bulb. Uhegbu Ljeoma (far left) says the project opened her eyes to the world of science. She is now determined to pursue a career in technology
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_03.jpg' alt='Pupils from Junior Secondary School Area 11 with their solar power project, demonstrating how solar cells can power household fittings, including a fan and light bulb. Uhegbu Ljeoma (far left) says the project opened her eyes to the world of science. She is now determined to pursue a career in technology
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_03.jpg' alt='Pupils from Junior Secondary School Area 11 with their solar power project, demonstrating how solar cells can power household fittings, including a fan and light bulb. Uhegbu Ljeoma (far left) says the project opened her eyes to the world of science. She is now determined to pursue a career in technology
'></noscript></noscript><p>Pupils from Junior Secondary School Area 11 with their solar power project, demonstrating how solar cells can power household fittings, including a fan and light bulb. Uhegbu Ljeoma (far left) says the project opened her eyes to the world of science. She is now determined to pursue a career in technology</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_04_50640.jpg' alt='A pupil wires a solar cell, an important element within the science project her class is carrying out on domestic solar power
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_04_50640.jpg' alt='A pupil wires a solar cell, an important element within the science project her class is carrying out on domestic solar power
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_04_50640.jpg' alt='A pupil wires a solar cell, an important element within the science project her class is carrying out on domestic solar power
'></noscript></noscript><p>A pupil wires a solar cell, an important element within the science project her class is carrying out on domestic solar power</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_05.jpg' alt='Stella Uzochukwu-Denis from the Odyssey Educational Foundation shows girls from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse how to build a robot. The foundation hosted the First Lego League challenge, in Abuja. In this competition, students programmed Lego robots donated by the toy firm to achieve a waste-based goal
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_05.jpg' alt='Stella Uzochukwu-Denis from the Odyssey Educational Foundation shows girls from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse how to build a robot. The foundation hosted the First Lego League challenge, in Abuja. In this competition, students programmed Lego robots donated by the toy firm to achieve a waste-based goal
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_05.jpg' alt='Stella Uzochukwu-Denis from the Odyssey Educational Foundation shows girls from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse how to build a robot. The foundation hosted the First Lego League challenge, in Abuja. In this competition, students programmed Lego robots donated by the toy firm to achieve a waste-based goal
'></noscript></noscript><p>Stella Uzochukwu-Denis from the Odyssey Educational Foundation shows girls from Government Girls Secondary School Dutse how to build a robot. The foundation hosted the First Lego League challenge, in Abuja. In this competition, students programmed Lego robots donated by the toy firm to achieve a waste-based goal</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_06.jpg' alt='The First Lego League challenge involves technical skills as well as creativity. As the robot takes shape, the girls learn to carefully follow instructions while also making their creation unique to impress the judges 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_06.jpg' alt='The First Lego League challenge involves technical skills as well as creativity. As the robot takes shape, the girls learn to carefully follow instructions while also making their creation unique to impress the judges 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_06.jpg' alt='The First Lego League challenge involves technical skills as well as creativity. As the robot takes shape, the girls learn to carefully follow instructions while also making their creation unique to impress the judges 
'></noscript></noscript><p>The First Lego League challenge involves technical skills as well as creativity. As the robot takes shape, the girls learn to carefully follow instructions while also making their creation unique to impress the judges </p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_07_39949.jpg' alt='The participants put Lego pieces in position for the First Lego League Trash Trek challenge. This involves programming a robot to pick up and then drop off pieces of rubbish on a playing area
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_07_39949.jpg' alt='The participants put Lego pieces in position for the First Lego League Trash Trek challenge. This involves programming a robot to pick up and then drop off pieces of rubbish on a playing area
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_07_39949.jpg' alt='The participants put Lego pieces in position for the First Lego League Trash Trek challenge. This involves programming a robot to pick up and then drop off pieces of rubbish on a playing area
'></noscript></noscript><p>The participants put Lego pieces in position for the First Lego League Trash Trek challenge. This involves programming a robot to pick up and then drop off pieces of rubbish on a playing area</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_08.jpg' alt='Two girls work on the Trash Trek challenge. The First Lego League brings research challenges facing today’s scientists to schools all over the world. Pupils must embrace critical thinking and team work, and are empowered by heling to solve real-life problems
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_08.jpg' alt='Two girls work on the Trash Trek challenge. The First Lego League brings research challenges facing today’s scientists to schools all over the world. Pupils must embrace critical thinking and team work, and are empowered by heling to solve real-life problems
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_08.jpg' alt='Two girls work on the Trash Trek challenge. The First Lego League brings research challenges facing today’s scientists to schools all over the world. Pupils must embrace critical thinking and team work, and are empowered by heling to solve real-life problems
'></noscript></noscript><p>Two girls work on the Trash Trek challenge. The First Lego League brings research challenges facing today’s scientists to schools all over the world. Pupils must embrace critical thinking and team work, and are empowered by heling to solve real-life problems</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_09.jpg' alt='Sixteen-year-old Lawal Alaifan Karimah makes sure the robot is programmed correctly so that it moves across the board picking up garbage and dropping it off in the correct places. She says that a girl can do whatever a boy can 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_09.jpg' alt='Sixteen-year-old Lawal Alaifan Karimah makes sure the robot is programmed correctly so that it moves across the board picking up garbage and dropping it off in the correct places. She says that a girl can do whatever a boy can 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_09.jpg' alt='Sixteen-year-old Lawal Alaifan Karimah makes sure the robot is programmed correctly so that it moves across the board picking up garbage and dropping it off in the correct places. She says that a girl can do whatever a boy can 
'></noscript></noscript><p>Sixteen-year-old Lawal Alaifan Karimah makes sure the robot is programmed correctly so that it moves across the board picking up garbage and dropping it off in the correct places. She says that a girl can do whatever a boy can </p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_10.jpg' alt='The robot has to be precisely aligned so that it picks up the garbage firmly
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_10.jpg' alt='The robot has to be precisely aligned so that it picks up the garbage firmly
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_10.jpg' alt='The robot has to be precisely aligned so that it picks up the garbage firmly
'></noscript></noscript><p>The robot has to be precisely aligned so that it picks up the garbage firmly</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_11.jpg' alt='A programmed robot moves across the playing area to collect garbage
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_11.jpg' alt='A programmed robot moves across the playing area to collect garbage
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/robots_to_tackle_waste_11.jpg' alt='A programmed robot moves across the playing area to collect garbage
'></noscript></noscript><p>A programmed robot moves across the playing area to collect garbage</p>
<p><em>Jon Spaull</em></p></div></div></div>
<div id="article-body">
<p>The <a href="http://odysseyedufoundation.org/">Odyssey Educational Foundation</a> is a Nigerian NGO that works with children in 15 state schools in Abuja to offer a rich learning experience in robotics, computer programming and the four STEM subjects: science, <a href="https://www.scidev.net/enterprise/technology/">technology</a>, engineering and maths. The foundation aims to encourage more children, especially girls, to think about pursuing science and technology careers.<br />
 <br />
The organisation was set up by Stella Uzochukwu-Denis in 2013, after she travelled to India to complete an MSc. Set on pursuing a career in the telecommunications industry, she changed her mind when she discovered that school clubs in India taught <a href="https://www.scidev.net/health/children/">children</a> programming and provided extra STEM tuition. Inspired by the experience, she returned home determined to offer the same service to Nigerian children.<br />
 <br />
These photos were taken at the Government Girls Secondary School Dutse and the Junior Secondary School Area 11.<br />
 <br />
On 30 January, Nigeria hosted the <a href="http://www.firstlegoleague.org/">First Lego League</a> challenge, facilitated by the foundation. In this international competition, students program Lego mini robots to achieve a specific task. This year more than 233,000 competitors from 81 countries took up the challenge titled Trash Trek. It involved programming the robots to pick up and drop off pieces of garbage on a playing area, as well as demonstrating research projects related to the topic of waste.<br />
 <br />
The two schools presented projects involving recycling, waste disposal and solar <a href="https://www.scidev.net/environment/energy/">energy</a> for domestic use.<div class="related_widget"><h3 class="widgettitle">You might also like</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/news/un-launches-consortium-to-tackle-ewaste/">UN launches consortium to tackle e-waste</a></li><li><a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/scidev-net-at-large/africa-science-technology-stem/">Africa changes the conversation around STEM</a></li><li><a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/opinions/tackle-fallacies-to-promote-gender-equality-in-science-1/">Tackle fallacies to promote gender equality in science</a></li></ul></div></p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/multimedia/nigerian-girls-build-robots-tackle-waste/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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The Odyssey Educational Foundation is a Nigerian NGO that works with children in 15 state schools in Abuja to offer a rich learning experience in robotics, computer programming and the four STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths. The foundation aims to encourage more children, especially girls, to think about pursuing science and technology careers.

The organisation was set up by Stella Uzochukwu-Denis in 2013, after she travelled to India to complete an MSc. Set on pursuing a career in the telecommunications industry, she changed her mind when she discovered that school clubs in India taught children programming and provided extra STEM tuition. Inspired by the experience, she returned home determined to offer the same service to Nigerian children.

These photos were taken at the Government Girls Secondary School Dutse and the Junior Secondary School Area 11.

On 30 January, Nigeria hosted the First Lego League challenge, facilitated by the foundation. In this international competition, students program Lego mini robots to achieve a specific task. This year more than 233,000 competitors from 81 countries took up the challenge titled Trash Trek. It involved programming the robots to pick up and drop off pieces of garbage on a playing area, as well as demonstrating research projects related to the topic of waste.

The two schools presented projects involving recycling, waste disposal and solar energy for domestic use.