Saving oceans with robot innovation

Teenagers from around the world design robots to restore marine ecosystems and promote global collaboration.

High schoolers from around the world recently proved that robotics isn't just about building machines — it's about tackling real-world challenges, one robot at a time.

The 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Shanghai Regional, held at East China Normal University from March 14 to 17, brought together nearly 1,000 high school students from 43 teams representing multiple countries and regions, including China, the United States, and Australia.

This year's theme, "Reefscape", challenged students to design and program robots to restore marine ecosystems. Tasks included transplanting artificial corals made from rigid hollow tubes and collecting simulated algae, testing both technical skills and environmental awareness.