On a bright spring day in February, the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education opened its doors to a wave of young innovators as it hosted the First Lego League (FLL) South Dublin Championships. The event welcomed teams from primary and secondary schools across the region to showcase their robotics projects, tackle real-world engineering challenges and experience university life in an engaging, inclusive way.
The theme for this year’s challenge, Submerged, focused on exploring the mysteries of the ocean and the technologies we use to navigate, understand, and protect it. Student teams impressed judges with their imaginative responses to problems in marine engineering, including underwater robotics, environmental protection and sustainable ocean exploration.
But the event was more than a competition—it was a gateway. For many students, it was their first time on a university campus and the friendly, high-energy atmosphere gave them a sense of what learning in higher education could look like. Through this, the FLL plays a powerful role in demystifying the university experience for young learners, particularly those from underrepresented communities.
Linking to Alliance4XR and Cybersecurity
The event also aligned strategically with the Alliance4XR Erasmus+ project, which is coordinated by the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education. One of the core themes of Alliance4XR is the application of immersive technologies to real-world STEM challenges, including those related to the marine environment. The project focuses on developing XR-based teaching resources and cross-disciplinary approaches that connect students with future-focused areas such as marine science, climate action and digital engineering.
The creativity, teamwork, and design thinking on display at the FLL reflected the very skills that Alliance4XR seeks to foster through virtual and extended reality learning environments. These hands-on problem-solving experiences also resonate with core principles of cybersecurity education—especially the emphasis on doing, critical thinking, collaboration and resilience. The event served as a vibrant intersection of engineering, XR, and cyber awareness for the next generation of innovators.
A special highlight of the day was the attendance of a distinguished guest: Professor David Hickton, the Director and Founder of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security. Prior to this role, he served as the 57th U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. His presence reinforced the importance of connecting young people’s early STEM experiences to global issues such as cybersecurity, digital citizenship and public interest technology.
Looking Ahead
With thanks to the teachers, mentors, families, and volunteers who supported the students, the FLL event proved a vibrant celebration of curiosity and collaboration. For UCD, it was another step in reinforcing its role as a hub for inclusive STEM outreach—while showcasing how student engagement through the four key elements of the FLL (robot design, robot game, core values, and innovation project) connects meaningfully with the university’s educational and research priorities. Notably, several teams leveraged immersive technology in their innovation projects, highlighting the potential of extended reality in STEM learning.
The event also reaffirmed the relevance of the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education in enabling cross-cutting, future-focused initiatives that blend cybersecurity, engineering, and digital innovation. By supporting programmes like Alliance4XR and events like FLL, UCD Centrefor Cyber Resilience Education plays a vital role in operationalising UCD’s Strategy – 2030 – Breaking Boundaries —particularly in its commitment to student–staff partnerships, widening participation, and enhancing STEM capacity for societal good. Events like FLL show how playful, purposeful learning can shape the resilient, ethical innovators of tomorrow.
