STUDENT INNOVATORS TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE AT FIRST LEGO LEAGUE 4TH ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP
For Immediate Release: January 18, 2009
HONOLULU- Governor Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor James R, “Duke” Aiona, Jr. will join nearly 500 students at the FIRST LEGO League 4th Annual Hawai‘i State Championship at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena today. The Championship begins at 1:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Eight weeks of research and design will culminate for 48 elementary and middle school teams at this year’s event. Students and their mentors will demonstrate problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, sportsmanship and a sense of community through competitive play, interviews and project presentations. This season’s challenge, “Climate Connections,” calls for teams to research and present their own creative solutions for one of today’s most critical issues: climate change.
Robotics missions include exploring greenhouse gases, effects on wildlife, and preparations for climate conditions. The projects challenge students to come up with innovative solutions for these global issues.
Governor Lingle will address students during the event’s closing ceremonies.
“I look forward to interacting with students who possess the skill and enthusiasm to tackle such a real challenge like climate change,” said Governor Lingle. “Using innovative ways to reduce pollutants and promote clean energy are key issues for our state, so it’s especially exciting that Hawai‘i’s future leaders already have a jump-start in solving these global challenges.”
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international robotics program that ignites an enthusiasm for discovery, science, and technology in students ages 9 to 14.
Junior FIRST LEGO League participants, ages 6-9 will also be showcasing their LEGO creations and “Show-me” posters, based on this year’s FLL theme.
FIRST LEGO League is one of six major robotics programs in which Hawai‘i students can participate (FIRST Robotics, Botball, Underwater Remote Operating Vehicle, Micro Robotics and VEX Robotics).
Recognizing the importance of promoting robotics at an early age and sustaining students' interest in STEM education throughout their schooling, the six robotics programs which previously operated autonomously earlier this year joined together to form the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) (www.robotics.hawaii.gov). This is the first time all six of the robotics programs have coordinated their efforts to promote robotics education in elementary, middle and high schools statewide.
Robotics education is a key component of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative, which seeks to transform Hawai‘i’s economy from one based on land development to one based on the innovative capacity of Hawai‘i’s residents, especially our youth. Robotics provides students with a strong educational foundation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and offers them opportunities to solve problems, work as teams and think analytically – skills useful in any career.
The event schedule is as follows:
The event is free and open to the public.
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus Senior Advisor – Communications Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang Chief of Media Relations Phone: (808) 586-0043
Corrie Heck Chief Communications Officer Phone: (808) 586-0718 Document Actions |
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