SII 2026 | 📌 January 11-14, 2026 | 🏝️ Cancun, Mexico

🏝️Outreach Program

Roboticist for a Day: Build, Code, Share!
Bridging local schools with the global robotics community

Grand Finale
Jan. 11, 2026

The SII 2026 Outreach Program is a premier initiative sponsored by IEEE RAS and designed to foster interest, skills, and engagement in robotics and STEM disciplines among students in the Quintana Roo region (Mexico). By leveraging hands-on learning and friendly competition, we aim to bridge the gap between local schools and the international robotics community.

In partnership with Netica, the Secretaría de Educación de Quintana Roo (SEQ), and Consejo Quintanarroense de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (COQHCYT), this program invites 20 school teams to experience the life of a roboticist through a rigorous training curriculum culminating in a grand finale at the Cancun Center.

🐚🪸Program Mission

Promote STEM education: Inspire students to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Provide early exposure: Equip students with foundational robotics and programming skills using the Intelligence Storm kits.
Encourage collaboration: Foster teamwork and critical thinking through technical challenges.
Equitable participation: Ensuring diverse access by engaging both public and private schools (Junior High Schools and High Schools).

🐚🪸The Challenge

Teams are utilizing the Intelligence Storm robot provided by Netica. The programming is conducted via a block-based interface, making complex logic accessible and engaging for students. The program consists of three distinct phases designed to take students from novices to competitors.

Phase 0: The Call & Selection (Sep. - Oct. 2025)

Mechanism: Direct invitation in collaboration with SEC.
Target: Public and private Junior High Schools (Secundaria) and High Schools (Media Superior) in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Chetumal, and Yucatán.
Team requirements: To promote inclusivity in STEM, each school nominated a team of 4 students and 1 teacher, with a strict requirement for equal gender representation (at least 2 female students per team).
Outcome: 20 schools (10 Junior High Schools, 10 High Schools) were officially selected to join the program.

Phase 1: On-Site Workshops (The Basics)

Date: Nov. 20 (Junior High Schools) & Nov. 21 (High Schools), 2025
Location: CBTIS 111 High School, Cancun
Activity: A 4.5-hour intensive workshop where teams received their robotics kits. Students learned assembly basics, sensor integration, and block programming fundamentals using the Netica platform.

Phase 2: Virtual Training (Advanced Skills)

Date: Dec. 4 (Junior High Schools) & Dec. 5 (High Schools), 2025
Format: Online Sessions
Activity: Two 3-hour sessions focused on intermediate and advanced robot functions.
- Session 1: Advanced sensors and logic.
- Session 2 "Final Challenge Reveal": Teams are presented with the specific challenges they must solve for the final tournament.

Phase 3: The Grand Finale (The Tournament)

Date: Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026
Location: Cancun Center (during SII 2026)
Activity: All 20 teams gather to compete. The day includes trial runs, semifinals, finals, and an awards ceremony.
Note to attendees: All SII 2026 participants are encouraged to visit the Outreach arena to support these future engineers!

Pre Event Finale

🏝️Meet the Teams

A total of 20 schools from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Chetumal, and surrounding municipalities are participating. Each team consists of 1 dedicated teacher and 4 talented students.