Museum of Nature & Science Organizes Student Competition Finale. The excitement of robots, the fun of LEGO®s and the thrill of competition combine with the ambition of problem-solving for the third annual FIRST LEGO® League contest.

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jennifer Whitus,
Communications Manager
214-426-4629
jwhitus@natureandscience.org
KIDS RACE LEGO® ROBOTS TO THE FINISH
Museum of Nature & Science Organizes Student Competition Finale
DALLAS, Texas (January 28, 2011) – The excitement of robots, the fun of LEGO®s
and the thrill of competition combine with the ambition of problem-solving for the third
annual FIRST LEGO® League contest. The competition pits 125 teams of students
against each other on a LEGO® robot obstacle course and the groups will match wits with
a coordinating research presentation. Two previous quarter final rounds have culminated
in the final round, scheduled to be held January 29 at The Hockaday School in Dallas.
The theme of the 2011 event is “Body Forward.”
To compete in the FIRST (which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of
Science and Technology) LEGO® League, students must build and program robots made
out of LEGO® blocks. The robots must then navigate a pre-determined obstacle course.
In keeping with the “Body Forward” theme, the obstacles are related to the field of
medicine. The young competitors must also complete a research project identifying and
solving a problem which currently exists in the medical community.
The contest is organized and coordinated by the Museum of Nature & Science in
Dallas. Under the Museum’s direction, the contest has gone from 20 teams to 125 teams
in the three years it’s been held in North Texas. The FIRST mission statement goes hand-
in-hand with MNS’ mission statement of “inspiring minds through nature and science.”
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2. FIRST LEGO® League, Page 2
“FIRST LEGO® League gives kids the opportunity to flex their brains in a sports-like
environment,” says Stacey Bucklin, family and adult programs manager for the Museum
of Nature & Science. “The competition is very high energy and you can’t help but get
excited and inspired by the kids’ determination to perform well. Each team is judged on
their programming skills, their research project and teamwork as well as the robot game.
As a result, the program encourages students to become well-rounded individuals poised
to make a positive change in the world around them. It’s exciting to think about the
impact FLL participants will have on our future!”
FIRST LEGO® League is presented by Lockheed Martin.
“Lockheed Martin is proud to support the FIRST LEGO® program as a presenting
sponsor,” said Hannah Stone, community relations manager for Lockheed Martin
Missiles and Fire Control. “We are committed to helping our local communities
encourage and promote math and science education, and the FIRST LEGO® program is
an outstanding tool for helping develop these young minds.”
Time Warner Cable, ExxonMobil, Greater Texas Foundation, Raytheon, Rockwell
Collins are all supporting sponsors of the FIRST LEGO® League.
“Time Warner Cable is committed to utilizing our resources and raising awareness
about the importance of education, particularly in STEM – Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math –an area of study in which our country is lagging,” says Gary
Underwood, vice president of communications for Time Warner Cable. “Through our
support of the FIRST LEGO® League, we are able to promote STEM learning among
students in a competitive team environment.”
“Middle school students may not realize that they’re actually preparing for their
careers now,” says Scott Whatmough, Raytheon NCS’ vice president of engineering and
technology. “Programs like FIRST LEGO® League, give students an advantage when it
comes to understanding math and engineering principles. Raytheon is happy to be a part
of such a worthy organization.”
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3. About the Museum of Nature & Science
The Museum of Nature & Science – the result of a unique merger in 2006 between the
Dallas Museum of Natural History, The Science Place and the Dallas Children's Museum
– is an AAM- accredited non-profit educational organization located in Dallas's Fair
Park. In support of its mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the museum
delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor experiences through its education,
exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers,
families and life-long learners. The facility also includes the TI Founders IMAX® Theater
and a cutting-edge digital planetarium. The Museum of Nature & Science is supported in
part by funds from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Texas Commission
on the Arts and HP. The Museum of Nature & Science also is building a new $185-
million museum on a 4.7-acre site in Victory Park to complement the Fair Park facilities.
To learn more about the Museum of Nature & Science, please visit natureandscience.org.