<p>NEWBURYPORT The grand opening of the Robotics Lab at the Rupert A. Nock Middle School is set for Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.</p><p>The program is well under way with a $60,000 donation from Strem Chemicals, Inc. of Newburyport that enabled the middle school to set up a state-of-the-art robotics lab this fall. The public is invited to view the enhanced learning space and see students' work in progress.</p><p>"This is hands-on, 21st-century learning," Michael Strem said in a press release. "This program is stimulating interest and promoting confidence in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math. We are proud to provide these exciting learning tools to the school and teachers."</p><p>Students work in pairs to design and build their robots using the latest technology, then program them to progress through an obstacle course. This is no easy task, according to educators. The robots must move forward and back, turn, avoid the "hot lava," pass through narrow passages and perform some required tasks using light sensors and tire rotations.</p><p><a href="http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x730438821/Robotics-Lab-open-house-set-for-Nock-School">Keep reading...</a></p>