Student Robotics Competition Kickoff at Museum Sept. 10

Student Robotics Competition Kickoff  

at Museum Sept. 10 

Exposition features contest demos, robot exhibits, competition experts

SEATTLE, Sept. 8, 2011--Robots rule at The Museum of Flight on Sept. 10 as students, teachers and mentors from across Washington state attend the official kickoff event of the fall season of FIRST robotics competitions. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) contests are extremely popular around the world with student teams from kindergarten through high school. Since 1989, FIRST has engaged students with programs and team competitions largely based upon the design and operation of robots. The FIRST Washington Kickoff Event will announce the new rules for the high school robotics competitions, with a robotics exposition featuring demonstrations and exhibits of K-12 robotics programs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Museum visitors can meet FIRST teams and drive competition robots. The event is free with admission to the Museum.

The kickoff is sponsored by FIRST of Washington state (FIRST WA). Representatives from FIRST WA will be joined by student robotics teams to answer questions about becoming involved in any level of FIRST. Complementing the event is the Museum's popular family education program, Robot Garage, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This highly interactive program is designed to introduce all ages to robotics by building and driving robots of their own design.

For more information about FIRST Robotics please see:  

usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc

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www.museumofflight.org/press/archives

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The non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest independent air and space museums in the world. The Museum's collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the William E. Boeing Red Barn^® -- the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The Airpark includes outdoor displays with the first jet Air Force One, a Concorde airliner, and the first Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The Museum aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast. The Education Office offers weekend family programs, programs for students and educators, and overnight camps for children. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit

www.museumofflight.org