In a notable achievement for India’s presence in the global robotics and STEM field, Benson Thomas George, a robotics expert from Kerala, has been chosen as a judge for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Michiana Premier Event in the United States. George participated in the international judging panel at the event held in South Bend, Indiana, from June 18 to June 21.
This appointment signifies the first instance of an Indian national being part of the esteemed panel that evaluates student innovations at a key event organized by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a renowned non-profit promoting STEM disciplines. The competition featured 106 student teams from various nations, with participants aged between 12 and 18 showcasing their robotics, Artificial Intelligence, engineering design, and software development projects.
George expressed his happiness at the recognition, highlighting how the platform offers young innovators exposure to advanced technologies and encourages them to create solutions with real-world societal benefits. Being a representative of India on the global judging panel was described by George as an honor and a chance to contribute to the STEM community worldwide.
Judges at the event evaluated teams on various criteria, including robot design, programming, engineering processes, innovation, documentation, teamwork, and community engagement. Awards were given in categories such as Innovation, Development, Sustainability, Outreach, Connect, and Match Performance.
The FIRST Tech Challenge is recognized as a top robotics competition for school students globally, with exceptional participants often earning admission opportunities and scholarships at prestigious universities like MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Pennsylvania. The scholarship opportunities linked with the program total over $80 million.
