ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) -- On Saturday afternoon, children gathered at the 15th annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League Explore Expo, hosted by the Cornell University NanoScale Facility in the Duffield Hall building at Cornell. The expo was a way for kids to present their research with Legos, based what they learned about energy and how it's generated, stored, distributed, and consumed.

"Twenty four teams from around Tompkins County and even beyond, were involved in working on a Lego model based on this year’s theme, “Super Powered” energy and energy in our society. FIRST is a non-profit that was founded by Dean Kamen, who is famous for the two-wheel Segway scooter. He founded FIRST to inspire kids in science and engineering," said Daniel Woodie, event organizer for the FIRST Lego League Explore Expo.

Woodie said it's important to get kids excited about learning and inventing new things for the future. He also said it's important to teach children how much fun math and science can be, and how entering the STEM field is a realistic goal to have.

"Kids will often dream of being a sports hero, but the reality of them actually doing that is fairly small. But, they can have an even bigger impact and the likelihood of being able to do that – to be an engineer or scientist -- is so much higher," said Woodie.

Woodie said by using Legos it allows people to use their imagination to build whatever they want. He said by having an event like this and using Legos, they can be used as the literal and figurative building blocks to problem solving and coming up with (a) solution(s). 

"You can go out and solve the world's problems with more complicated Legos but it’s that same idea. You can build with the tools we have to help build a better tomorrow. We really need to make sure we are equipping the next generation to be able to tackle those problems with vigor, with excitement, and really come up with solutions that are going to make the issues and challenge’s our world is facing better.," said Woodie.

The Lego Leopards from Vestal were one of the teams who presented their research. The team built a water wheel, carousel, and their Lego version of a pencil sharpener.

Myra, a seven year-old, was one of the Lego Leopard's team members. She said she learned a lot, and had fun.

"When water falls from a high mountain or a waterfall – it goes into a water turbine. The turbine is connected to a gear, and the gear makes another gear spin ... which makes my favorite ride -- a carousel, spin," said Myra.

Dylan Pape was also on the Lego Leopards and he also said building everything was fun.

"I'm a big fan of Lego … and I enjoy building things, so that’s why I joined Lego club," said Pape.

The next FIRST season of competition will open in August. You can find the Cornell FIRST Lego League Explore Expo Facebook page here.