By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – A handful of junior scientists, known as the Cornwall Raging Robots, have been asked to vacate their makeshift laboratory and are in need of a new home – ASAP.
Dr. Raji Menon, team coach, is calling on the community for their support.
Without it, the Raging Robots, a team of nine to 14 year olds, risk losing the resources to help them become the next great inventor.
The team’s new space must be able to accommodate team members and their parents, a large table full of project work and robot building accessories, and it must have the Internet so that the kids can research online.
“We have been asked to vacate the Trinity Church hall this week – so, we have nowhere to meet until we get a new place. In fact, we have nowhere to put our table even!” said Menon.
The reason why the team has been asked to leave has not been confirmed.
Inspired by Maxville’s NGS Tech Tigers, the Raging Robots formed in 2013 wanting to get hands-on with science and technology.
Roughly eight members and their parents attend weekly meetings, which take place Thursdays, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. during tournament season.
But Menon was forced to cancel the team’s June 12 meeting and all future dates until a new venue has been secured.
The Raging Robots are looking into several venues including the Williamstown United Church Hall, Stormont Stationers, St. Lawrence College, and the basement of the Legion at the corner of Cumberland and Second streets.
“As far as rent goes, if they give us the space as a donation, with an invoice for the rent, we can provide a tax receipt from our community partner, the TriCounty Literacy Council,” she said.
In January, the Raging Robots won fifth place at a provincial tournament hosted by an international robotics program named FIRST Lego League.
It costs $50 to join the Raging Robots. But Menon says that barely covers registration fees.
“We need a total of at least three thousand dollars, if not more, to run the entire program,” said Menon.
For more information, visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/CornwallRobotics.
