“1 … 2 … 3 … Lego!”

That was the countdown heard echoing throughout Howe and Hoover Halls on Saturday before every match as the Iowa For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Lego League invaded Iowa State.

The competition included 70 teams of children ranging in age from 9 to 14 years old who traveled from across the state to face off in an event that featured a robotics-based puzzle focused on the current energy struggle facing the world.

Brandon Newendorp, chairman of the Iowa FIRST Lego League, head referee and graduate student in mechanical engineering, said the competition tries to promote the science and engineering fields as more than just sitting at a desk doing math all day. It was just a small part of what, he said, he can do to give back to the engineering students of tomorrow.

“FIRST is part of what got me interested in engineering at a young age,” Newendorp said. “It’s just a way to help feed into the [engineering] college and, at the very least, teach these kids about science and technology, even if they don’t necessarily go into a engineering-related career. It’s important for them to get the background knowledge, because that can benefit you in every walk of life.”

Along with Saturday’s robotics competition, the children involved with the Iowa FIRST Lego League were required to do a research project on a local business. For this year’s theme – power puzzle – teams helped brainstorm ideas on how local business can conserve energy and help slash their utility bills significantly, and then presented their to judges.

The competition teams took part in on Saturday included the completion of the power puzzle. As part of the challenge, teams were required to program their robots to perform such tasks as placing hydroelectric dams and solar panels on a 4-foot by 8-foot map while removing hazardous materials such as oil and non-energy-efficient vehicles.

Team members from the team Untitled1.rbt said there were a number of things they were able to take away from the experience.

“As a team, we’ve learned how to work together as a team at the table,” said Untitled1.rbt member David Cunningham, 13, of Marion.

Cunningham’s teammate, Ben Sheetz, 13, of Marion, was able to take more of a life lesson away from the experience.

“It keeps you thinking about economics by knowing how the world works economically,” Sheetz said. “It really changes your view of technology just by knowing the difference one lightbulb can make.”

Saturday’s events weren’t just exciting for those who took part in the competition. Tony Milosch, sophomore in computer engineering and member of the ISU Robotics Club, said it was exciting to see young individuals excited about robotics, the same thing that has played a large role in his development as a student.

“It makes me excited, because I was involved in FIRST Lego League, then FIRST Robotics, then, now, the ISU Robotics Club,” Milosch said. “For me, it was just something that I got involved in and it was exciting. It eventually turned into something that helped me choose my major, now that I’m in college.”