Robot Programming Mission: Neumann Takes on the Weather Forecast

On Sunday, September 20th, from 4:00 PM, we will hold a parent-child event at fermi cafe called
"Robot Programming Mission."

The instructor is Mr. Kenichi Tanifuji from the Children's Social Academy.

Mr. Tanifuji conducts his activities with the motto, "Raising children who can survive rather than just children who can do."

The "Robot Programming Mission" held last year was very well received.

This year, we will again divide into children's teams and parent teams to take on the challenge of robot programming.

The capacity is 12 people.
It is on a first-come, first-served basis.

This event is held with the cooperation of the Tokyo Ohka Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology.

The event participation fee is free.

However, the following fermi cafe usage fees are required:

・Adults: 700 yen
・Elementary school students to graduate students: 500 yen

(New rates effective from September 1st).

In this reading session, we will introduce John von Neumann, known as the father of the computer.

Neumann was a Hungarian-born Jewish scientist who later immigrated to the United States.

Neumann had many achievements, but this time we will focus on weather forecasting.

We check the weather forecast on our smartphones almost every day.

However, Neumann was at the center of the group that first attempted to predict the weather using a computer.

Weather forecasting requires calculating a vast amount of information, such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind direction, and wind speed.

When Neumann's team first attempted this, it reportedly took 36 hours to calculate the weather forecast for 24 hours later.

By the time the forecast was completed, the time they wanted to predict had already passed.

Even so, they continued to take on the challenge.

That challenge was refined and developed, and now we can perform massive calculations in just a few seconds.

The weather forecasts we take for granted are built upon the challenges taken on by those predecessors.

Currently, I am creating a 12-page picture book about the scientist 'Neumann' for a reading session on September 20th.

After hearing the story of a scientist who tried to predict the future, why not experience carving out the future yourself by operating a robot?

We will be holding a potluck party from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM after the event concludes.

You can join the potluck party even if you are not participating in the 'Robot Programming Mission'.

The participation fee is

・Adults: 1,400 yen
・Elementary school students to graduate students: 1,000 yen

In addition, please bring one dish that everyone can share.

Any kind of food or snack is very welcome.

Talk about robots, science, school, or work.

I hope this will be a time for people of all generations to interact.

Capacity is 12 people, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Let's meet at fermi cafe on Sunday, September 20th.