357 Help wanted: Cambridge seeks Lego professor

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The University of Cambridge is on the cusp of hiring a Lego professor.

The 800-year-old British university recently accepted £1.5 million ($2.3 million) from the Lego Foundation to launch a new research center focused on “play in education, development, and learning”.

The professor is expected to lead the center. The role will be financed by an additional £2.5 million ($3.9 million) from the Lego Foundation.

The job still needs a final sign-off from the university, but official documents show Cambridge’s School of the Humanities and Social Sciences is keen to hire someone for the new position.

Candidates for the role will likely need to be passionate about playing with colorful plastic bricks and enthusiastic about early childhood education.

I – Word Understanding
on the cusp – at the point when something is about to happen
sign-off – approval

II – Have Your Say
1. Did you know?
Six eight-stud LEGO bricks can be combined in over 915 million different ways. Two bricks can be combined 24 different ways, and three bricks 1,060 ways.
2. Why should play be part of all children’s life?
Play is a legitimate right of childhood, representing a crucial aspect of children’s physical, intellectual and social development.

357 Help wanted: Cambridge seeks Lego professor