What is the FIRST Robotics Program?
FIRST Robotics began in 1989 as a way of encouraging students to choose careers in math, science and technology, while also building their life skills and instilling a spirit of “gracious professionalism” and humility in its participants. Without “chest thumping” or “sticky-sweet platitudes,” as the site explains, young people engage in competitions where they build robots. The Junior FIRST LEGO league is for 6-9 year olds. The FIRST LEGO league targets younger children ages 9-14, while the FIRST Robotics Competition helps high school age students. The FIRST Tech Challenge provides more affordable robotics technology to high school students. More than 137,000 kids participated in last year’s program, spanning across 42 countries from Germany and the UK to Turkey and Israel. FIRST Robotics founder Dean Kamen is an inventor, physicist, engineer and entrepreneur. He is perhaps best known for inventing the Segway Human Transporter, an environmentally friendly short distance travel solution
