Researchers of Tomorrow

Young technology heroes from Norway and Denmark spent a dream day at Statoil's research centre in Trondheim.

Steffen Lehre and Line Grina Rossum from Team Extreme, Gjøvik, examine the difference between acid and alkaline solutions. Research done in the laboratory covers acid oils and corrosion among other things. (Photos: Jorun Hegna/Statoil)

The Dauerkraft team from Aalborg in Denmark won Scandinavia's biggest technology contest for children and young people, the First Lego League (FLL) in 2008. As an extra prize they won a trip to Norway.

In Trondheim the young technologists met the Norwegian winners, Team Extreme from Gjøvik, north of Oslo.

Together they got to see and experience research activities first-hand. The programme included laboratory visits, workroom activities and a creative cafe with singing, games and surprises.

Andreas Makinen Andersen (left) and Pernille Pedersen from Aalborg in Denmark get their robots ready for the mini competition with the Norwegian team from Gjøvik.

Inspiration and curiosity are important elements in becoming a successful researcher. This is emphasised in the FLL competition which aims to stimulate an interest in science subjects among children and young people.

Ready for world final
Practice makes perfect. The two teams took the opportunity to get ready for the FLL world final in Copenhagen on 1-3 May with a mini robot competition.

The youngsters will represent Scandinavia and compete with 43 teams from all over the world, with climate challenge as the theme. New collaboration agreement Statoil is strengthening its long collaboration with the FLL and is now to be main sponsor for First Lego League Scandinavia as part of the group's Heroes of Tomorrow campaign. "This is an element of our focus on science subjects," says Leif Lømo, project manager in Technology & New Energy. "We want to team up with those who are responsible for education and those who have the resources to implement measures which enthuse youngsters, like the foundation behind FLL, First Scandinavia."