Remember playing with LEGOS while you were growing up? Yes, those small, colorful, creative and often frustrating, yet addicting pieces of plastic. Personally, it was building the little people that led to my obsession with LEGOS. Now, don’t strain yourself while reminiscing about the good times as UR will be hosting its own LEGO building competition. The first annual Finger Lakes For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST, tournament is slated to take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Palestra of the Goergen Athletic Center.
FIRST LEGO League is an international program hosted in over 15 countries. Students, namely nine to 14 year olds, first compete on a regional level, state level, national level and finally, the coveted international level.
The competition itself consists of approximately 26 teams of 10 middle-schooled aged children competing to build a LEGO robot. This robot has to successfully complete several obstacles, including saving the “fish” from the “shark” and freeing the “dolphin” from the “netting.”
The competition will be judged on five areas, which include research and participation, robot performance, technical mechanics the robot’s construction, teamwork and professionalism.
Although the competition is international, it is the first time that the Finger Lakes region gets to host the event.
Undergraduates are asked to volunteer their time to help monitor or mediate the event. Go to http://www.seas.rochester.edu/SEAS/fll for more information.
Buitrago can be reached at jbuitrago@campustimes.org.
Buitrago can be reached at jbuitrago@campustimes.org.
