DETROIT – Inventor Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology – has restructured his program in Michigan into 16 districts under the new entity called FIRST in Michigan in an effort to keep Michigan as once of the top engineering centers in the nation.

Each district will run local events that lead to a March 2009 Michigan State Championship, in a competition hierarchy similar to that of traditional high-school varsity sports. More important, FIRST in Michigan district events will be closer to home, less costly to enter and allow increased accessibility for teams which will result in students spending more time competing, and doing so in front of family, friends and community members.

�??This change comes at a critical time in our state�??s future,�?� said FIRST in Michigan Director Francois Castaing. �??Too few students in Michigan high schools understand what engineers do, how interesting their lives are, what kind of salaries they earn and that the nation is facing a severe shortage of engineers. U.S. high-school students entering higher education rarely choose engineering colleges �?? in contrast to China, where a mind-boggling half of all students submit applications to enter engineering colleges.

�??Although it is impossible to predict the future, including the economic opportunities and challenges Michigan may face, it is clear that to re-energize our economy we need more than a favorable business tax environment and financial incentives alone,�?� he said.

�??We need a steady flow of new engineers and technicians who will help existing and new industries tackle international competition and environmental challenges,�?� he said. �??Michigan needs the next Larry Page to start another Google or to invent a new fuel from crab grass.�?�

As a statewide not-for-profit, FIRST in Michigan will be housed at the Detroit Science Center and will establish action plans for growth by building on or establishing new relationships with local schools, mentors, volunteers and sponsors and other supporters from the state to help students learn and excel in the skills and knowledge needed to stay competitive in a 21st-century workforce.

FIRST in Michigan�??s state and local sponsors will have increased opportunities for recognition of their contributions to the state�??s workforce development efforts.

Said Castaing: �??Unlike traditional sports where a tiny fraction of high school participants ever manage to turn pro, the FRC program is a varsity sport for the mind in which everyone can turn pro.�?�

The new initiative follows a pilot event held at Kettering University in Flint earlier this year, which showed that the life-changing experience for high-school students, which is the trademark of the FIRST Robotics Competition, could be achieved at lower costs at the district level than previous FIRST Robotics Competition �??Regionals�?� held at the state level. As a result, there will be seven Michigan district events in 2009, enabling all Michigan teams to compete at least twice within the state and thereby qualify for the Michigan State Championship at Eastern Michigan University. From the State Championship, 18 teams will qualify to advance to the FIRST Championship to be held in Atlanta, Georgia in April 2009.

To date almost one in four Michigan high schools have FIRST Robotics Competition teams, one of the highest participation rates in the country.

�??But we must do better,�?� Castaing said. �??Every student in Michigan should have access to this program and we are now set up more effectively to move toward this goal. This restructuring will make the program substantially less expensive for each high school in the state and more rewarding for all involved.�?�

The new pilot initiative will be led by local volunteers with FIRST Robotics Competition experience who have been charged with the mission of convincing high school principals and local corporations to get involved and, in doing so, encourage students to become interested in math, science and engineering. Prior barriers to participation are addressed in the new approach, including: lower participation fees; reduced time away from school and work (teams rely on the support of adult mentors and volunteers); and lower travel costs.

�??Moreover, the new FIRST Robotics Competition�??s district model will be more like traditional varsity sporting events where families, schools, local government, media and business will come to cheer their teams on and discover how engineering and science can be exciting and rewarding,�?� said Castaing. �??Put simply, FIRST Robotics Competition is the timely medicine for tomorrow�??s economy. As it succeeds, it will not only help build a brighter future for Michigan; but it will put our state in the lead as the entire country wakes up to the economic challenges brought on by our flattening world.�?�

FIRST teams in Michigan currently number 118 FIRST Robotics Competition teams with approximately 150 high schools involved and 310 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams with over 3,000 students competing; and FIRST Robotics Competition alumni make up 20 percent of the current student body at Kettering University�??s School of Engineering in Flint.

To learn more, click on USFirst.Org

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