The Warrnambool Robotics Academy director is now hosting his STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Maths) learning programs in the Warrnambool Art Gallery.

The SBS producer who studied robotics and teaching robotics at Carnegie Mellon University in America, is now running his sessions every Monday to Thursday in the gallery’s learning space.

After three years in Warrnambool, the former Romanian said his sessions involve practical planning, building, engineering and programming robots.

The sessions have attracted 50 students from across the south-west, despite only running for two weeks.

“Robotics is good for so many reasons,” Mr Manu said. “It helps with problem solving, STEM subjects, team work and it makes kids better at maths.”

“The kids around here are really bright,” Mr Manu said. “They are very good at finding solutions to problems.”

Mr Manu said his goals for the group included entering an international robotics competition in December and expanding the program to include high-school aged students by 2019.

Warrnambool Art Gallery spokesman Agostina Hawkins said the gallery was thrilled to welcome Mr Manu’s robotics sessions.

“At WAG we have been actively seeking ways to engage children,” she said. “Some of our most popular sessions have been those that have allowed children to study subjects which you would not normally associate with Art.

“The program that Daniel is running at Robotics Academy Warrnambool is a fantastic way of children becoming involved in engineering and IT in an Arts space.

“You can see by the numbers that children from all over the area are enjoying this new learning.”