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An impressive team of seventh-graders from Nidarvoll School in Trondheim, Nidarvoll SeaGMA, has secured a spot in the world finals of the FIRST® LEGO® League in Houston, USA.

FIRST® LEGO® League is one of the largest technology and knowledge competitions for children and young people aged 6 to 16, challenging participants to find innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Groundbreaking Innovation Against Sea Lice

This year’s theme, "Submerged," inspired the team to focus on one of the most critical issues in Norwegian aquaculture – sea lice. Sea lice have long been a significant threat to wild salmon populations, and so far, no effective solutions have been found. Nidarvoll SeaGMA's response is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with blue laser technology, designed to remove sea lice directly from wild salmon.

This innovative technology could revolutionize the fight against sea lice while simultaneously protecting both farmed and wild salmon populations.

Collaboration with Experts

To develop and validate the solution, the students have worked closely with some of the leading players in aquaculture and technology, including SINTEF, Stingray, Nova Sea, SalMar, SeaSalmon, NTNU, Eelume, and the Institute of Marine Research.

This close collaboration has been crucial in creating a technologically advanced and biologically sustainable method.

FIRST® LEGO® League – A Global Platform for Young Innovators

FIRST® LEGO® League aims to inspire children and young people to become the engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers of tomorrow. The competition starts every fall with a new mission that teams must solve over eight weeks. In addition to research and innovation, participants must design and program a LEGO® Education robot.

The competition culminates in local and national tournaments, where winning teams qualify for international finals. In Norway and Sweden, there are 36 tournament cities that annually attract technology and knowledge enthusiasts.

The Path to the World Finals

Nidarvoll SeaGMA has already won the regional finals. They now represent not only Trondheim but also Norway and Scandinavia in the world finals. Together with a Swedish team, they are the two teams from Scandinavia competing in the FLL World Championship. They will compete against teams from all over the world that have all found creative solutions to global challenges.

Ocean Autonomy Cluster and NCE Aquatec Cluster congratulate Nidarvoll SeaGMA on their achievements so far and wish them the best of luck in Houston. We are proud to see the next generation of engineers and innovators step into the world with solutions that can contribute to a more sustainable future for aquaculture.

Visit Nidarvoll SeaGMA’s website for more information about the project and the competition. It is also possible to contribute support to the team.