Culture | October 12th, 2016
By Ben Haugmo
benhaugmo@yahoo.com
The NDSU annual Bison BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) Robotics competition was started to encourage middle school and high school students to become interested in engineering, science and technology careers.
Before the main competition kicks off, community members are invited to preview submissions during Mall Day this weekend.
Each Bison BEST competition has had a different theme, and this year, robots will be designed to perform agricultural tasks.
At Liberty Middle School in West Fargo, a team of 86 students is designing a robot that will harvest vegetables, plant seeds, and corral pigs. The aim is to complete as many tasks as possible within three minutes.
Michael Stecher is a science teacher at Liberty Middle School. Together with teachers of other subjects, he has helped to emphasize the interdisciplinary aspects of competing for Bison BEST.
“What we’re doing as teachers,” said Stecher, “is tying agriculture into all four of our classrooms, making this an interdisciplinary project. In my class, in science, they’re learning about growing lettuce and what plants need. In math, they looked at scale models of building a robot and conversions. In language arts, they’re working on the engineering notebook itself.”
The team at Liberty Middle School is organized as distinct departments. One team is working to build the robot, but there are many other processes involved in preparing for the competition. One team has to code the robot, another has to build the playing field that the robot performs its tasks on, and yet another team works on outreach and getting the word out to the public.
“The competition says ‘Hey here’s your task, do it,’” said Stecher, “so we figured the best way to do the task with 86 students is break them up into specific departments and have them each have their role. It’s kind of like a company, and I would say we’re bigger than most companies in Fargo.”
The main competition will be held in two weeks at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse at NDSU, but anyone interested in previewing the robots at work can come to West Acres this weekend.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
Bison BEST Mall Day
October 15
West Acres Mall
May 12th 2025
May 12th 2025
May 12th 2025
May 12th 2025
April 17th 2025
__293px-wide.jpg)
__293px-wide.jpg)
__293px-wide.jpg)
By Alicia Underlee NelsonMore than 1,000 pro-worker events are planned for Thursday, May 1 across the country, including rallies in Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks, Minot and Jamestown. East Grand Forks and Bismarck will host protests…
From concerts and car shows to Japanese art and Juneteenth celebrations, there's so much going on around the region this summer. This year's High Plains Reader Summer Events Calendar is back and bigger than ever. It's packed with…
Saturday, May 17, 7- 9 p.m.Spirit Room, 111 Broadway N., Fargo Armed with a 12 string guitar, multi-octave voice and a mountain dulcimer, Claudia Schmidt combines story, song, poetry and a dash of theatre in a one-of-a-kind…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIt’s no secret that there are folks among us who make our communities a more vibrant place through both their actions and means of creative expression. Heck, you could be one of them yourself.…
By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comIn which century would you love to live, the 14th or the 22nd?History tells me we are in a period where Americans are fighting for their choice. Just 48 hours after Adolf Hitler was appointed…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…
Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…
By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Of the many photographs that help tell the story “I Know Catherine, the Log Lady,” the one of David Lynch dressed as FBI Regional Bureau Chief (and later Deputy Director) Gordon Cole saying…
By Raul Gomez Modern Man was a gentle soul. If you were down or just wanted a friend, he’d be there for you. I remember the first day I met Modern Man. It was Jeremiah Fuglseth and me. He wanted to write about this legendary…
By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…
By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…
By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com I remember when I was young, probably 11 years ago. One morning I was not feeling well because of my period. After I got ready to go to school, I went back to bed and it was hard to get up…
By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…
By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson.nd7@gmail.com Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at…