Serious Fun at FIRST

Photo: Newscom/Photographers Showcase

FIRST Frenzy 2004

As the Rover robots clambered over the Martian surface and sent back tantalizing evidence of ancient water there last month, thousands of high school students were gearing up for the regional finals of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition. The brainchild of Dean Kamen, medical devices inventor, sultan of Segway, and archetypal maverick genius, the FIRST competitions aim to use robots to fire up high school students worldwide about science and technology. Participants build robots that compete in a "sports event" complete with frenzied, costumed fans and half-time festivities.

But FIRST is not just about building machines. It's about building teams and increasing community interest in technology. Competitors are judged, of course, on the versatility and endurance of their robots, but also on their own abilities to work together. They are encouraged to bring other students into the mix and get their schools' neighborhoods involvedin much the same way that a football team might raise money by putting on a car wash or might promote athletic activity by running a sports clinic for younger kids.

There has been a lot of discussion about the whys and wherefores of technology education. How do we get more young people to sign on? The inspiring regional FIRST matches that took place in March suggest that leading by example is a great way. In addition to the squads of rambunctious robogeeks, thousands of grown-ups—parents, teachers, engineers, machinists, software guys, friends—worked alongside the students in the robo pits or cheered wildly from the stands. They were engrossed and engaged, and they certainly gave off the impression that being a nerdy techie could also be way cool. Get involved (http://www.usfirst.org) at the grass roots. The FIRST Frenzy 2004 championship event is this month at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. It's seriously effective. And seriously fun.