Future Innovators Shine at Barbados Junior Robotics Camp

The buzz of innovation filled the room as bright young minds proudly unveiled their robotics creations at the 2025 Barbados Junior Robotics Camp Showcase. The well-spoken students presented their inventions to an audience that included sponsors and proud parents, with some displays keeping everyone on the edge of their seats as the robots battled.

The five-week camp held at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, was hosted by the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) under the leadership of Interim Executive Director Professor Cardinal Warde. It brought together aspiring young innovators from across Barbados, culminating in a display of engineering skill, problem-solving, and teamwork.

This year, Republic Bank (Barbados) Limited proudly joined the camp’s sponsors. The Bank’s sponsorship falls under its Power to Make a Difference (PMAD) corporate social responsibility programme, specifically the Power to Learn pillar, which focuses on education, culture, and the arts. With sustainability as a core theme for Republic Bank, Marketing Officer - Communications Sharon Howell highlighted the alignment between the camp’s activities and sustainable development.

“When we think of this Junior Robotics Camp and how it ties in with sustainability, we think about sustaining learning through the transfer of knowledge, the recycling of items used to make the robots, the utilisation of robots to enhance efficiency, and the possibility of energy conservation, amongst other things,” she said.

Ms. Howell went on to commend the students for participating in an activity that will serve them well as Barbados’ future leaders, innovators, and change-makers. “Whether you want to pursue a career in robotics, environmental science, art, or something completely different, the skills you develop here will stick with you: problem-solving, teamwork, resilience, and a drive to keep learning,” she noted. “Here’s the truth: the world needs young people like you, people who can think outside the box, who care about making a difference, and who are ready to shape a future that’s smarter, more sustainable, and more inclusive.”

The Barbados Junior Robotics Camp is one of CSF’s flagship programmes, designed to equip students aged 10-18 with hands-on experience in robotics, coding, and STEM-based problem solving. Republic Bank extends its congratulations to all participants of the 2025 camp and reaffirms its commitment to supporting initiatives that nurture the next generation of Caribbean innovators.