FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a multinational non-profit organization, that aspires to transform culture, making science, math, engineering, and technology as cool for kids as sports are today.

FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter. FIRST operates the FIRST Robotics Competition in which teams of high school students, sponsored and assisted by local companies and volunteers, design, assemble, and test a robot capable of performing a specified task in competition with other teams. FIRST also runs the FIRST LEGO League, for children 9-14 years old, and FIRST Place, an innovative science and technology center, including a hands-on children's science museum.

FIRST was founded on partnerships with businesses, educational institutions and government. Many Fortune 500 companies provide funding, in-kind donations and volunteers to support the program.

The key to FIRST's success is the work of over 25,000 volunteer mentors, professional engineers, teachers, and other adults working with students across the country. In addition to the thousands of volunteer team mentors, FIRST competitions and other events were organized and staffed by over 14,000 event and committee volunteers. Through these volunteers, FIRST programs engaged over 70,000 young people during the last year. FIRST programs are growing rapidly in the United States and Canada, and demand is accelerating in other countries.

FIRST website

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Overall Reach:

- 156,000 students

- 12,907 robots

- 44,000 mentors

- 28,000 event volunteers

2008 FIRST Robotics Competition:

- 1,500 teams

- Over 37,000 high-school students

- From Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the U.K., and every state in the U.S.

- 41 Regional events in Brazil, Canada, Israel, U.S.

- FIRST Robotics Competition Championship at the FIRST

- Championship in Atlanta, GA, April 17-19, 2008

- Robots are built in 6 weeks from a common kit of parts provided by

- FIRST, and weigh up to 120 lbs. (excluding battery and bumpers)

2007 FIRST Tech Challenge:

- 800 teams

- 8,000 high-school students

- 30 Tournaments in Canada, Mexico, U.S.

- FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship at the FIRST

- Championship in Atlanta, GA, April 17-19, 2008

- Robots are built using a modular robotics platform

2007 FIRST LEGO League:

- 10,607 teams

- Over 106,000 students, ages 9 to 14

- From 38 countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, U.K., U.S.

- Over 360 Qualifying events and 87 Championship Tournaments

- FIRST LEGO League World Festival at the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, GA, April 17-19, 2007

- Robots are built using LEGO MINDSTORMS technologies

2007 Junior FIRST LEGO League:

1,000 teams

5,000 students, ages 6 to 9

39 JFLL Expos

U.S. and Canada