Students on the SRES Rezbots robotics team took first place for their culturally-inspired space research project presentation at the 2018 Oakwood FLL Scrimmage in Peoria.
The scrimmage took place on November 10 as part of the
FIRST LEGO League INTO ORBIT Challenge. Teams from 12 schools across the Phoenix Valley participated.
Four students competed: Akisha Dan, Alisha Dan, Lucas Williams, and Alexcia Ivins. There are 10 members of the Rezbots team.
The INTO ORBIT Challenge presented students with the question: How can an astronaut survive, socially and physically, in space for over a year?
The Rezbot solution: The astronaut can plant O'odham pink bean as a way to stay healthy, food-wise; plus, planting can be a hobby to alleviate social and mental issues associated with long periods of isolation. The students learned about the O'odham pink bean from school and Community experts, including culture and language teachers like Kino Reed at Salt River High School.
Their coaches, Dakota Yazzie and Justin Kershner, said the Rezbots will continue to research different methods of planting the O'odham pink bean in environments similar to what would be experienced on a space shuttle or space station.
UPDATE: At the Arizona First LEGO League Tournament at Mesa Community College, Red Mountain campus in December, Coach Kershner received an award for BEST COACH! Congrats, Mr. K!
You can hear from Mr. K and one of the Rezbots students talk about their research on the Native Health podcast, which aired in January 2019!
The Rezbots welcome any experts in either of those fields as guest speakers (call SRES at 480-362-2400 if you're interested in learning more).