We are Berkelium.
A student-led FIRST Robotics Competition team at Berkeley High School. Each season, 75+ students design, build, and compete with a 120-pound robot — and mentor the next generation of engineers across our district.
A student-run program built on curiosity, craft, and community.
Berkelium is more than a competition team. We're a working engineering program — students lead every subteam, make every design call, and own every line of code. No prior experience is required to join; mentorship and training are part of the work.
Open to new members
From first-time builders to seasoned programmers, every member has a role — no applications, no cuts, no fees. We teach the skills you need on the bench, in the shop, and at the keyboard.
Join the team →Genuinely student-led
Captains and subteam leads run the season. Mentors advise; students decide. It's a real responsibility — and a real education.
Committed to the community
We've founded 21 middle school robotics teams across Berkeley and run an annual RoboCamp. We invest in the pipeline behind us.
Berkelium.
Discovered here. Named after Berkeley.
Element 97 was first synthesized at UC Berkeley in 1949. We took the name because it's ours — a reminder that we build in a city where the periodic table itself was rewritten.
About the team
Leadership structure, subteams, and how our season runs.
Learn more →02Outreach & RoboCamp
FLL mentorship, summer camp, and community programs.
Learn more →03This season's robot
Specifications, subsystems, and engineering decisions.
Learn more →04Support the program
Sponsorship tiers, donations, and mentorship opportunities.
Learn more →RoboCamp — registration is closed until next summer.
Thank you to everyone who joined us this year. RoboCamp is a week-long, student-taught program for middle schoolers covering mechanical design, programming, and competition strategy. Registration for next summer opens in the spring — email us to be notified first.
Team Berkelium is fiscally sponsored by BARESA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every contribution funds materials, registration, and travel scholarships that keep the program accessible to all students.