Press

2025-03-17

On Saturday, more than a thousand participants and spectators from all over Lithuania gathered on Nemunas Island. The final event of the country’s largest robotics and innovation festival, “Robotiada 2025: First Lego League,” took place at “Science Island.” This year’s competition theme was “The Secrets of the Underwater World.” Teams explored technological possibilities and tackled challenges related to water ecosystems, transportation, and resources. Their custom-built robots competed against each other and presented relevant research projects.

The Inspiring Triumph of Teams

A total of 320 young innovators from across Lithuania dedicated themselves to preparing robotics projects, enhancing their knowledge and skills over a long period. After competing in preliminary rounds, they gathered at “Science Island” on Saturday to showcase their final results.

The national “Robotiada 2025” final featured 53 teams composed of participants aged 6 to 16. The competition was divided into two categories: in the Explorer League, children aged 6–9 developed projects using Lego Education Spike Essential kits, while in the Challenge League, students aged 10–16 programmed robots to complete as many tasks as possible and presented innovative solutions related to the underwater world.

The winners of the Explorer League were the “Gelmių atradėjai” team from Velžys Gymnasium in Panevėžys. They triumphed over their competitors by presenting a creative solution aimed at reducing ocean pollution. Their innovative approach undoubtedly inspired the audience to reimagine the possibilities of Lego.

In the Challenge League, the “Forest Force” team from Kaunas Jėzuitų Gymnasium claimed first place. They introduced innovative solutions to clean algae from various water bodies, proposing a new ecosystem that could generate energy and nutritional resources.

“I am incredibly proud of my students, their daily dedication, and disciplined work. I am happy to have built a strong team passionate about robotics. I always tell the kids: if you want to be consumers—go ahead. But if you want to be creators—don’t wait until you grow up. Start now, without fear of failure, and enjoy the process every day,” said Albertas Juškauskas, technology, arts, and robotics teacher at Kaunas Jėzuitų Gymnasium, during the award ceremony.

Juškauskas emphasized that one of the most important goals of a teacher is to establish the right communication with students. He highlighted the importance of fostering their motivation to work, develop their skills, and collaborate effectively as a team.

First Time in Kaunas

This year marked the 13th edition of “Robotiada”. Although teams from Kaunas have been crowned champions multiple times over the years, the event was held in the city for the first time.

“At last, the festival has come to Kaunas—a city that has raised world champions in robotics, surpassing even the largest nations. I am grateful for the contribution of the ‘Science Island’ STEAM laboratory team and their collaboration in organizing the national finals.

This is a truly special event for children, where they not only develop technical skills but also foster teamwork, cooperation, and the search for meaningful solutions that matter to us all,” said Saulius Vasiliauskas, a pioneer of robotics in Lithuania and the main organizer of “Robotiada 2025”.

The speaker emphasized that the competition is not only about technical abilities but also about teamwork, mutual support, and collaboration. This approach maintains a healthy sense of competition, fosters lasting friendships, and strengthens the bonds between individual talents.

Robotics – An Essential Discipline

In preparation for the final event, children spend several months designing, refining, and testing their robots with discipline and dedication. This process helps instill the mindset that technology is an integral part of today’s world, capable of addressing both everyday and global challenges.

“To build a robot, you need to revisit math concepts. Children are motivated by the opportunity to immediately apply theoretical knowledge in practice, and ‘Robotiada’ provides the perfect environment for this. These competitions encourage respectful rivalry, sharpen focus, and expand the circle of positivity. The kids who grow up in this culture later enter the workforce, innovate, and contribute to the defense and development of our country.

In my opinion, robotics should go beyond extracurricular education and become a mandatory subject for all students. Perhaps we should even introduce a robotics exam or establish engineering and technology startup schools,” shared Dr. Dainius Žvirdauskas, Director of KTU Engineering Lyceum.

Preparing for the Launch of STEAM Laboratories

The main partners of “Robotiada 2025”, who contributed to the national final, are the “Science Island” STEAM team, which is actively preparing to introduce even more exciting innovations for science enthusiasts.

“Although we have unprecedented access to information today, it is important to remember how much is still undiscovered. The mission of ‘Science Island’ is to keep reminding us of that. We are thrilled that the ‘Robotiada 2025’ final is being held in Kaunas—this event serves as a great rehearsal for our team before the upcoming launch of our laboratories at the end of spring,“ said Aistė Lukaševičiūtė, head of the “Science Island”.

The STEAM laboratories will operate in two directions:

• As the Kaunas Methodical STEAM Center, becoming part of Lithuania’s STEAMLT education network.
• As an interactive space open to all “Science Island” visitors, offering hands-on experiences.

The interactive educational programs and creative workshops will be designed for children of all ages and their families, providing a unique opportunity to explore and strengthen their knowledge in various scientific disciplines.

The grand opening of the “Science Island” STEAM laboratories is scheduled for May 16–17.

In the first few months of operation, Science Island has already welcomed over 50,000 visitors, and there is no doubt that the upcoming STEAM activities will attract significant interest as well.

2025-03-03
Author: Deimantė Daugintytė. “Statyba ir architektūra”

Photo: Andrius Aleksandravičius

The first science museum in the country, “Science Island”, presented to the public in 2017 and finally welcoming its first visitors at the end of 2024, has already managed to become an object of regional significance. The “Science Island” competition in 2016 was the first architectural competition of its kind in Lithuania, attracting a lot of attention from architects from all over the world. The winners were the Spanish and Australian architectural studio “SMAR Architecture studio” (Fernando Jerez, Belen Perez de Juan), the technical part was implemented by the team of architect Gintautas Natkevičius (architectural office “G. Natkevičius and partners” (Gintautas Natkevičius, Dominykas Kalmatavičius)). 

“This is a different object than we are used to: it has a modern planetarium, science-revealing spaces, a restaurant, and conference spaces. The very name “Science Island” is symbolic. It is a place of science, knowledge, and entertainment at the same time. This is an object on Nemunas Island that talks about science and conveys the message of how science works in life,” architect G. Natkevičius describes the museum opened on Nemunas Island. 

Invited by the winners of the architectural competition, G. Natkevičius and his team worked on the technical part of the project for 1.5 years. G. Natkevičius, whose studio also participated in the competition, describes his colleagues from “SMAR Architecture studio” as highly educated people, capable of generating deeper architectural and social ideas. Their experience and ingenuity allowed them to win the “Science Island” architectural competition and stand out among 150 other participants. 

The architect shared with the editorial staff of “Statyba ir architektūra” that the ideas presented back in 2016 remained relevant almost a decade later. “After so many years, it turned out that the idea of the “SMAR Architecture studio” studio is still fresh, alive, architecturally and aesthetically very mature. Although the metal, glass, reinforced concrete building itself is of conventional construction, its complexity lies in the fact that it was designed on the Nemunas island, where the river water is very high – this poses certain challenges,” emphasizes the author of the Kaunas airport, business centers and residential projects. 

A building of the highest architectural quality 

The architect who established his studio in Kaunas has implemented many of his works precisely in this city. Therefore, the 11.5 thousand sq. m. project of the “Science Island” is not accidental, but well-planned and thought-out, taking into account the urban structure. The Science Museum organically contributes to the image of the Nemunas Island: an arena, a swimming pool, and a green park have been operating here for a long time. Soon, after the construction of the bridge, the urban structure will be completed and will become unique in the city of Kaunas. 

“The Science Island completes the island of objects visited by the public, a patch of land. This place will not change, it is completely formed, and after the construction of the pedestrian bridge, the composition will be completed. This place is unique because of its structure: a river in the city, the structure of the “Science Island” intended for the public, a park with mature trees. In the city center we have an organism with a lot of action: a playground, attractions and architecture of the highest level,” – G. Natkevičius is convinced and adds that there are only a few such architecturally strong projects in Lithuania. 

“Currently, I know of two such high-quality architectural works in Lithuania – the Stasys Museum in Panevėžys (architects IMPLMNT architects: Aurimas Syrusas, Greta Brimė, Ričardas Bertašius, Aurelija Kniukštaitė, Eglė Gečaitė, Ieva Sirijatavičiūtė, Kotryna Bajorinaitė, Jonė Virbickaitė) and the Science Island. The Lost Shtetl museum being built in Šeduva (architects Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects) will also be special,” adds the architect. 

“Science Island” in the context of science museums in Europe 

According to the specialist, “Science Island” occupies an important place on the European museum map due to its exceptional architecture, location and context. It is not always possible to fulfill all the criteria for relevance. 

“For example, in Finland, near Helsinki, there is the science museum “Heureka” (architects – “Heikkinen – Komonen Architects”). It is built next to the railway, so the place is “nothing”, it is simply convenient to get to it. In Latvia, in Ventspils, Audrius Ambrasas and his team (Audrius Ambrasas, Vilma Adomonytė, Jonas Motiejūnas, Viktorija Rimkutė, Justas Jankauskas) designed the Science and Innovation Center near a huge transport ring. The Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw (architects – “RAr-2 Laboratorium Architektury Gilner & Kubec”) is also in a built-up, cramped place. Perhaps the only interesting science museum in Europe is in Amsterdam – the NEMO Science Museum (designed by Renzo Piano), located in the bay. Its shape resembles a ship, so it has an image. 

At the same time, the uniqueness of the “Science Island” is that it has a connection with the place, the symbiosis is very cool. There is an island, on the island – a valley, the building is long and low, on one side it is all underground, on the embankment – as if it is there, as if it is not there. The only disk glows, it is raised, but it is also subtly turned towards the Nemunas. This is international architecture of the highest level, organically incorporated into nature: water, Nemunas, island, valley – such things give a hotel many stars, ” – compares the architect. 

Over 30 thousand visitors in the first two months 

“Science Island” is the first science and innovation promotion center in Lithuania. Here, visitors can expect a long-term exhibition with as many as 140 objects, a modern planetarium, emerging STEAM laboratories, and various cultural and educational activities. “Our goal is to arouse curiosity and inspire everyone to experiment – by combining real science with entertainment, to refute the myth that fun does not equal value. The center is intended for the whole family, where both young and old are invited to search, make mistakes, and rediscover their love for science by trying innovative methods,” says Aistė Lukaševičiūtė, head of the Science and Innovation Dissemination Center “Science Island”. 

During the first two months of operation, the “Science Island” was visited by over 30 thousand visitors of all ages. About half of them were children who come here with school groups, parents, guardians or other family members and enjoy the joy of discovery. “This number is pleasing and once again confirms the need for such a project as the “Science Island” in our society,” says the museum director and says that the planetarium sessions are the most popular program among visitors. 

Here you can not only see films, but also attend lectures by an astronomer. The content shown in the planetarium is presented on an 11-meter diameter dome-shaped screen with a 5.1 audio system, reaching even 8K resolution, and the latest software from the company “Evans & Sutherland” allows visitors to show not only images and animations of the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies, but also to familiarize themselves with real-time images from space observatories and Earth-observing satellites. 

“When creating the “Science Island”, our main goal was for people who visited here to discover the joy of knowledge. The smiles of visitors show that we are doing quite well. We have many great plans for the future, so that this trend only strengthens and everyone would want to return here more than once,” says A. Lukaševičiūtė, the head of the “Science Island”, commenting on the plans.