Enthusiasm and creativity at First Lego League
First Lego League is the world’s largest science competition for children and young adults. In November, over 300 students got the opportunity to express creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills at the regional finals at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm.
The museum hosted the event together with innovation partner Sandvik.
Over 300 students, ages 6 to 16, competed for championship titles by tackling this year's theme: Submerged. The teams were invited to explore ocean layers, study marine ecosystems, and create solutions for ocean sustainability using STEAM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).
Exploring ocean sustainability with STEAM skills
The theme inspired creativity and problem-solving through a two-part challenge. Participants designed a Lego robot capable of navigating an obstacle course, and created a separate project based on the Submerged theme. For the project, they identified their own real-world challenge, developed or improved a solution, and built models or prototypes to bring their ideas to life. They refined their work based on feedback and presented their solutions to a jury, highlighting the real-world impact of their ideas. The jury evaluated them on creativity, technology, teamwork and communications, ultimately selecting winners.
"It's my fourth year, so you can tell I think it's a fantastic opportunity," said Grace Kouki from Botkyrka robotics club. "Every year brings a new group with new ideas. It's not just a competition, it's a learning experience that helps you grow, teaches you about the real world, and it is so fun!"
Inspiring the next generation of engineers
Mats W Lundberg, Head of Sustainability at Sandvik, was one of the judges during the event. “Seeing the kids’ enthusiasm and creativity was truly inspiring,” he says. “This is exactly why we support First Lego League. It gives students hands-on experience in engineering and research, helping them build confidence and essential skills, and hopefully sparking a lifelong interest in technology.”
Fellow judge Pauliina Lunde, Head of Digital Channels at Sandvik, agrees. “It’s important for Sandvik to support kids and teenagers in pursuing a career or interest within STEAM activities.”
Sandvik award winners and champions
The day concluded with an awards ceremony, hosted by Freddy Grip, the Swedish scientist famously featured on Britain’s Got Talent. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of participants across various categories. A special Sandvik Award was presented to Hajarna VRSJ 1, for consistently demonstrating strength in technology, design, and camaraderie. But topping the competition were the overall champions, Björn’s Minioner, who excelled across all aspects of the competition. Their victory earned them a place in the upcoming Scandinavian finals in Oslo, with the chance to advance to the international finals in Houston in 2025.