Brownies invent sustainable water solutions with Lego

MEMBERS of Ráth Éanaigh Brownies, Raheny, were among 200 members of Irish Girl Guides to come up with a selection of innovative water solutions using Lego, which they recently showcased at an expo in Dublin City University.

The Brownies (a branch of Irish Girl Guides for 7-10-year-olds), who worked in teams of four, spent five weeks researching the issue of water sustainability and exploring innovative ways to preserve water.

Each team designed, built and programmed an autonomous motorised Lego model incorporating a range of sensors and motors. 

The teams also designed a poster with diagrams of the solution they had come up with, the feasibility of executing the project and details of the programme used. Each group of four girls also underwent an interview about their project.

Their work culminated in an expo – similar to the BT Young Scientist &Technology Exhibition – where the girls displayed their projects and were on hand to explain to families, friends and visitors the creative solutions they had come up with.

The project, Irish Girl Guides Innovatively Engaging with STEM (IGGIES), is a partnership with Dublin City University’s Learnit Lego Education and is sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland.

Irish Girl Guides National Programme and Training Commissioner Jenny Gannon said the organisation was delighted to undertake the project with Brownies from throughout Ireland. 

“Earlier this year 200 Brownies from Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare took part in the first phase of IGGIES and it’s been great to give another 200 Brownies the same opportunity,” she said.

“Irish Girl Guides believes in challenging stereotypes and we have undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to encourage our members to pursue STEM subjects in school and to consider pursuing careers in STEM.

“We are also committed to encouraging our girls to dream big and to take action to make a difference in their local communities and in the wider world.” 

Ms Gannon added: “The IGGIES project is just one of a number of activities we are using to help our members learn about the Sustainable Development Goals and to explore ways in which they can help make the world a better place.”