When:

Friday, March 6th and Saturday, March 7th, 2009

Where:

Boston University's Agganis Arena

925 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston

What:

Over 1,000 high school students from across the region will compete in the fourth annual Boston FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. Over fifty (50) teams will compete for honors and recognition that reward robot design excellence, competitive play and sportsmanship. Highlights from last year's event can be found at http://www.bostonfirst.org.

On Saturday, participants and attendees will be treated to a special performance by Blue Man Group.

Also on Saturday, Dr. Hiep Nguyen, co-director of the Center for Robotic Surgery at Children's Hospital Boston, will be a featured speaker and will also provide a demonstration of Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci® Surgical System. Dr. Nguyen will detail how the robot is used at Children's Hospital to perform minimally invasive, laparoscopic procedures -- ensuring a quicker healing time and all-around better experience.

Who:

--  Blue Man Group
--  Boston Scientific Founder and FIRST Chairman, John Abele
--  iRobot co-founder, Colin Angle
--  Assistant Chief Engineer for the Chevy Volt Electric Vehicle,
    Alexandra Cattelan
--  TEDMED President & Boston FIRST Chairman, Marc Hodosh
--  Over 1,000 high school students and over 7,000 cheering spectators
    

About FIRST

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. 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 not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, the FIRST LEGO League for children 9-14 years old, and the Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

Contact:
Milldam Public Affairs LLC
Adam Waitkunas
978-369-0406 (voice)
978-828-8304 (mobile)

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