Robotics Integration Pays Off for BVI
A five-member Virgin Islands team finished 42nd at the First Global Robotics Challenge in Panama City, moving up from an initial ranking of 143. Minister Sharie B. de Castro credited the rise to the territory’s integration of robotics into the school curriculum.
The British Virgin Islands was represented at the First Global Robotics Challenge in Panama City, Panama, from October 29 to November 1, 2025, by students Eleazar Brooks, Keyara Smith, Jayron Gibson, Judiah Case and Denae Scatliffe-Chalwell. The global event, held under the theme "Eco Equilibrium," drew participants from more than 190 countries and focused on biodiversity and STEM solutions.
According to First Global, this year’s challenge required teams to navigate robots through a simulated world to restore habitats, maintain ecological balance and protect vulnerable species. Alongside the core competition, teams participated in the Eco Equilibrium New Technology Experience (NTE), developing community-focused projects that use emerging technologies to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable solutions.
The Virgin Islands team made a notable climb in the standings over the course of the event. Entering the competition ranked 143rd, the team progressed through the rounds to 111th, then 13th, then 30th, and finished 42nd on the final day. Minister for Education, Sports and Youth Affairs Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) attributed the improvement directly to the integration of robotics into the local curriculum, saying the programme "inherently allows the students to code, to build robots, to program them, to fail forward, to make mistakes, challenge them, strategise, come again, do it bigger and better every single time." Hon de Castro said she felt "absolute joy" at the team's performance and praised the territory’s growing strength beyond traditional sports. "We know that we excel in sports, and recently we have been doing our thing in both chess and robotics," she said.
Regionally, official rankings show Aruba, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda placed above the Virgin Islands, while the VI was the top-ranked team among member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The result highlights the territory’s standing within the subregion and points to the potential of continued investment in STEM education.
Educators and policymakers in the territory have increasingly emphasised hands-on STEAM learning, and the team’s performance at First Global provides a visible example of the benefits of those efforts. The Minister’s comments signal continued support for robotics in schools, which advocates say can open pathways into technology careers and enhance problem-solving skills for local students.
Residents and schools are encouraged to celebrate the competitors and follow efforts by the Ministry of Education and local partners to build on this momentum in future competitions and classroom programmes.
Primary source: VINO