Feb. 27, 2004

Future space explorers to land at VCU to compete in NASA/VCU Regional Robotics Competition March 4-6

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By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

An estimated 1,500 students, teachers and mentors from 63 high schools representing nine states and Canada will participate in the NASA/VCU Regional Robotics Competition - an annual event that challenges high school students, working with professional mentors, to design and build a robot as a solution to a technical, engineering problem which changes every year.

High school students make adjustments to their robots during the 2003 NASA/VCU Regional Robotics Competition at the Siegel Center. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Watson, VCU Creative Services
High school students make adjustments to their robots during the 2003 NASA/VCU Regional Robotics Competition at the Siegel Center. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Watson, VCU Creative Services

This year's competition will be held March 4-6 at Virginia Commonwealth University's Siegel Center. For a schedule of events and times, click here. The public is encouraged to attend, catch the excitement of this intense competition, and cheer on their favorite teams. For team listings, click here. Admission is free.

Special guests include Jeffrey Seaton, Chief Technology Officer at NASA's Langley Research Center; David Lavery, Ph.D., Program Executive for Solar System Exploration at NASA; and Ian McEwan, Director of Program Operations at FIRST.

This year, robots are designed to perform a number of tasks as they participate in "FIRST Frenzy." Teams will vie for regional awards celebrating creativity, sportsmanship, team spirit, technology, Web site design and animation submission.

Several teams will also attend the championship held April 15-17 at The Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. The robotics competition is produced by FIRST, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and their communities.

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering. With the support of many of the world's most well-known companies, the non-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition for high school students and the FIRST LEGO(tm) League for children 9-14 years old. To learn more about FIRST and the FIRST Robotics Competition go to www.usfirst.org.