For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) is an organization to make science and computers fun. Visit the official website here
FIRST's Vision
"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes."
Dean Kamen, Founder
FIRST's Mission
To inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
FIRST’s Impact:
Recently, Brandeis University’s Center for Youth and Communities conducted an independent, retrospective survey of FIRST Robotics Competition participants and compared results to a group of non-FIRST students with similar backgrounds and academic experiences, including math and science. Highlights of the study’s findings include:
When compared with the comparison group, FIRST students are:
v More than 3 times as likely to major specifically in engineering.
v Roughly 10 times as likely to have had an apprenticeship, internship, or co-op job in their freshman year.
v Significantly more likely to expect to achieve a post graduate degree.
v More than twice as likely to expect to pursue a career in science and technology.
v Nearly 4 times as likely to expect to pursue a career specifically in engineering.
v More than twice as likely to volunteer in their communities.
FTC HISTORY
FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter. FIRST operates the FIRST Robotics Competition, in which teams of high school students, sponsored and assisted by local companies and volunteers, design, assemble, and test a robot capable of performing specified tasks in competition with other teams.
The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a mid-level robotics competition for 8th - 12th grade students. It offers the traditional challenge of a FIRST Robotics Competition but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit. The ultimate goal of FTC is to reach more young people with a lower-cost, more accessible opportunity to discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering.
In 2005, FIRST and RadioShack teamed up to present the FIRST Vex Challenge (FVC) demonstration at the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, GA. The purpose of the FTC demonstration tournament was to stimulate and explore interest in FIRST Vex competitions. The event was an overwhelming success. FIRST began a full pilot of the program during the 2005-2006 FIRST season. After two years as a pilot program, the FIRST Board of Directors approved FTC as an official FIRST program, changing the name to FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) in 2007.
