For months, more than 30 teams at schools in Central Hesse have been preparing, building and programming small robots, working on an exciting research journey into the past under the motto "unearthed." Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) is hosting this year's regional competition of the "FIRST LEGO League." The teams will compete against each other on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the JLU Chemistry Building (Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17). The competition is open to the public and offers a wide range of activities for the whole family.
The global "FIRST LEGO League" competition takes place in regional rounds and offers children aged four to 16 a playful introduction to STEM subjects. In the Explore category, six- to ten-year-olds work together as a team; for nine- to 16-year-olds, the Challenge competition offers demanding experiences and challenges. In one challenge, a self-built robot must complete up to 15 tasks on a designated playing field within 2.5 minutes; in the other, the teams present their answer to a research question faced by archaeologists.
The FIRST LEGO League combines technology, teamwork, and imagination into a unique educational experience, according to the organizers. A jury evaluates not only the best robot performance and the teams' research results, but also sportsmanship and the teamwork of the young inventors.
In "unearthed," teams take on the role of archaeologists: They explore excavation sites, develop strategies for recovering delicate artifacts, and reconstruct historical contexts using modern technologies. The robot game in the challenge requires solving new tasks at each excavation site, demonstrating teamwork, and showcasing technical skills.
“The competition combines research, technology and playful learning in a unique way. For us at JLU, it is important to show young people early on that science is not abstract, but thrives on discovery, experimentation and collaborative problem-solving,” says physicist Prof. Dr. Christian Heiliger, Managing Director of the Center for Applied Informatics and Data Science (ZAD) at JLU.
The event is organized by the Schüler:innen-Forschungszentrum Mittelhessen e.V. (Central Hesse Student Research Center), which is staging this competition day together with a broad regional alliance of educational stakeholders. Chairman Gunnar Merle explains: “We are delighted to host the regional competition of the FIRST LEGO League 2026 at Justus Liebig University Giessen . The competition showcases what young people can achieve when curiosity, team spirit, and innovation come together.” The shared goal is to spark an early interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) while simultaneously strengthening teamwork and communication skills.
In addition to the newly founded JLU Center for Applied Computer Science and Data Science (ZAD), the STEM promotion team at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) is also involved. The patrons are Prof. Dr. Albrecht Beutelspacher, Director of the Mathematikum Giessen and Ambassador for Central Hesse, and Prof. Dr. Harald Danne, Head of the Transformation and Strategic Development division at the Lahn-Dill district. Alongside the competition, there will be a live demonstration of the FIRST Tech Challenge for 12- to 18-year-olds for the first time.
FIRST LEGO League educational program
The FIRST LEGO League is a joint initiative of FIRST (USA) and LEGO Education (Denmark). In the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the program is implemented by the non-profit organization HANDS on TECHNOLOGY eV. Since 2002, over 185,000 children and young people have participated in the FIRST LEGO League. Thanks to numerous sponsors, participation is free for teams.
appointment
FIRST LEGO League, Regional Competition 2026, on February 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
Venue: Chemistry Building of the JLU, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, 353982 Giessen
Further information
Center for Applied Computer Science and Data Science (ZAD) at JLU: https://www.uni-giessen.de/zad
Student Research Center Central Hesse e.V.: https://sfz-mittelhessen.de
FIRST LEGO League, Regional Competition 2026: https://sfz-mittelhessen.de/fll-regionalwettbewer
