MODEC lauds STEMGuyana’s robotics programme, sponsors national robotics team

Several representatives from MODEC Guyana Inc have visited the STEMGuyana Clubhouse to meet with Guyana’s National Robotics Team — a group of 15 talented youths aged 14 to 18, six of whom recently represented Guyana at the First Global Challenge, an international robotics competition held in Athens, Greece.

During their visit, MODEC’s representatives engaged the robotics team in discussions about their training, preparation and participation in the competition; and the students explained how they worked closely with their international alliance members in analyzing each other’s robots to divide tasks based on their strengths.
For instance, they shared, their robot excelled in carrying and offloading tasks, so they focused on perfecting that function. They also described how they made real-time adjustments to their robot throughout the competition in order to stay competitive.
Speaking with the team, MODEC’s Country Manager Rafael Fumis drew parallels between the robotics work and the tasks performed in the offshore oil and gas industry.
“The work you’re doing here is very similar to what we do in our operations,” he said. “On our offshore platforms, we control thousands of valves through CPUs like the one in your robot. We analyze data from various sensors, and those valves react to maintain the process table,” he explained.
“The skills you are learning here are directly applicable to the work we do. Additionally, we use robots and drones for inspections and 3D modeling, so what you’re learning will undoubtedly make a difference in your future careers. Well, done,” Fumis declared.
Operations Manager at STEMGuyana, Alisha Koulen, took the opportunity to brief the MODEC team on the various programmes offered by STEMGuyana, including STEM Clubs, Learning Pods, National Competitions, the STEMGuyana Innovation Expo, the Robin the Robot TV programme, the Parent Academy, the Virtual Academy, and the Summer Camps.
Additionally, Board Member and Fundraising Coordinator for STEMGuyana, Elsie Harry, highlighted the relevance of the students’ STEM education to the growing demands of the oil and gas sector. She recalled that several STEMGuyana alumni had been recruited by companies within the industry. She also suggested that, when MODEC’s FPSO unit arrives in Guyana, it would be an exciting opportunity for the robotics students to visit and witness its operations firsthand.
The Country Manager welcomed the idea, as did the students, who were eager for the potential learning experience.
Lakesha McArthur, who served as the robot driver during the First Global Challenge, expressed her heartfelt thanks to MODEC Guyana Inc. for their generous sponsorship, and presented the MODEC team with STEMGuyana memorabilia as a token of appreciation.
The participation of Team Guyana Robotics in the Athens Challenge of 2024 was made possible through the generous support and sponsorship of several key contributors.