In a landmark moment for youth STEM engagement and gender diversity in technical fields, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda officially hosted an all-girl team of young scientists and innovators this Wednesday, ahead of their upcoming participation in the FIRST Global STEM competition set to take place in South Korea.
Drawn from multiple secondary schools across the twin-island nation, the 14 to 16-year-old team members earned their spot on the national delegation through a government-funded annual STEM outreach initiative designed to cultivate creative problem-solving and early interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among secondary students. This year’s delegation carries particular significance: it is the country’s first all-female national team for the competition, marking a notable shift in participation trends in fields that have long been male-dominated globally.
During their visit to the Cabinet, the young innovators did not only introduce themselves to government officials and outline their distinct roles on the team — covering everything from mechanical engineering and software coding to robot operation — they also gave a full live demonstration of their custom-built competition robot, which the team has affectionately named “Hot Spill”.
Per the rules of the FIRST Global competition, all participating teams must build their robots from standard kit parts, and must complete a series of structured challenge tasks. For the core collection task, the Antigua and Barbuda team engineered a unique expandable collection mechanism that allows Hot Spill to gather more game pieces than a standard design, paired with an integrated lifting system that can deposit multiple pieces into the required target container at once, rather than one at a time. The robot is also being refined to complete the competition’s climbing challenge, with bonus points awarded for helping other competing robots complete the climb. Team members told Cabinet that ongoing testing and iterative modifications are still underway to optimize the robot’s performance ahead of the competition.
The national team was selected through the country’s annual government-supported STEM Camp, a free outreach program that opens access to STEM training for young people across Antigua and Barbuda. This year, 300 students took part in the camp, working in collaborative teams and competing in a series of skill assessments before the top performers were chosen to form the national delegation. The Antigua and Barbuda Board of Education has allocated roughly EC$30,000 to cover the team’s travel and competition costs, backing their participation on the global stage.
Cabinet members highlighted that this youth STEM initiative aligns with the government’s broader education strategy: to nurture a new generation of creative thinkers, problem-solvers and innovators equipped to tackle 21st-century challenges with science and technology. Government officials also emphasized that expanding access to STEM, innovation and financial literacy training creates critical pathways for young people to access higher education, launch their own entrepreneurial ventures, and secure high-skill future employment.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne joined all members of the Cabinet in congratulating the team on their achievement so far, praising the young women for their creativity, technical skill and confidence, and extending warm wishes for success as they prepare to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the international competition.