Press & Media
January 17, 2006
Long Island Students Explore Our World in "Ocean Odyssey"
Teams Solve Real-World Problems through Robot Design and Research at SBPLI-LIFIRST LEGO League Tournament to be held at Longwood High School on Sunday, January 22nd
Event Marks 2nd Annual LEGO League Tournament on Long Island
(Melville, New York) – Children from Long Island have been tasked with the challenge and excitement of designing and building an original robot in the SBPLI-LIFIRST LEGO League program. This weekend, eight weeks of research and design will culminate in the SBPLI-LI FIRST LEGO League Tournament where teams of children and mentors will demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of community. Among the participants are 9 to 14 year old boys and girls from 30 elementary and middle schools on Long Island. This action-packed event is free and open to the public. The tournament will take place at Longwood High School on Sunday, January 22nd from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
This year’s Challenge, “OCEAN ODYSSEY”, calls for teams to research and present robotics technology solutions to help ensure the health, diversity and productivity of the world's oceans for present and future generations. The competition is judged in five areas: research and presentation; robot performance; technical mechanics of the robot’s construction; teamwork; and gracious professionalism. The highest honor will go to the team that best exemplifies the spirit and values of the program. Every participant will receive a medallion to commemorate his/her experience and dedication to the eight-week process.
Founded by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was created to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. FIRST LEGO League is an international program for 9 to 14 year-old children created in partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Company in 1998. Each September, FIRST LEGO League announces the annual Challenge to teams, which engages them in authentic scientific research and hands-on robotics design. Using LEGO MINDSTORMS technologies and LEGO bricks, children work alongside adult mentors to design, build and program robots to solve real-world challenges. After 8 intense weeks, the competition season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments.
Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities. “We need to show kids that it’s more fun to design and create a video game than it is to play one,” said Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder. “In FIRST LEGO League, kids discover career possibilities and learn to make positive contributions to society.” Currently in its seventh year, the FIRST LEGO League anticipates its largest season ever with almost 7500 teams from around the world competing in qualifying events and tournaments.
Fred Breithut, Founder & Chairman of School-Business Partnership of Long Island said, “We are pleased to coordinate the Long Island FIRST LEGO League Tournament. It is extension of the FIRST Robotics Competition. Together these programs are opening a world of technology, science and engineering to so many Long Island students, helping to build our high tech workforce of the future.”
For more information on the 2006 competition please call (631) 366-0749.
