FIRST Global to Welcome 185+ Nations to Mexico City for World’s Premier High School Robotics Olympiad

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16 – SATURDAY, AUGUST 18: MEXICO CITY

WHO:

  • More than 1,000 students in grades 9-12 from more than 185 countries
  • 180+ student teams competing with custom-built robots in an energy-themed challenge 
  • Dean Kamen, accomplished inventor and founder of FIRST® Global
  • Ricardo Salinas, chairman of Grupo Salinas, host and chairman of the 2018 FIRST® Global Challenge and founding member of FIRST Global 

WHAT:

  • The FIRST Global Challenge is an annual robotics competition in which a different Grand Challenge of Engineering takes center stage each year
  • The program event and annual Grand Challenge fosters understanding and cooperation among the global youth as they use their abilities to solve the world’s problems
  • The focus of the 2018 Challenge is “Energy Impact,” in which shifting alliances of three nations will compete to fuel power plants, initiate renewable energy plants and build a resilient transmission network in a simulated exercise
  • This competition not only provides an opportunity for students around the world to learn and discover more about the exciting world of robotics, but also teaches the importance of working together with peers, regardless of their place of origin, creed, religion, or race
  • FIRST Global, a U.S. based not-for-profit organization, was founded by philanthropic inventor Dean Kamen with the mission to inspire an interest in science and technology innovation and leadership among the 2 billion youth of the world, and to ensure that every child has the chance to obtain the necessary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills to overcome the greatest challenges we face as a global community

WHEN:

  • August 16 at 12:00 hrs CDT – Opening Ceremony
  • August 17-18 from 10:00 hrs CDT-18:00 hrs CDT – Competition game rounds
  • August 18 at 18:00 hrs CDT – Closing Ceremony

WHERE:
Arena Ciudad de México
Av. de las Granjas 800, Santa Barbara, 02230, Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

STORY LEADS INCLUDE:

  • Students from around the world putting political, racial, religious and other differences aside to work collaboratively with their peers and prepare for a better tomorrow
  • Students on Team Kosovo fighting to have their visas approved by the Mexican government (which does not recognize Kosovo’s independence), and the imperative to work together toward a better future and why we should be celebrating students’ futures rather than inhibiting them
  • Underscoring the importance of STEM education to create more secure and prosperous livelihoods for all, including those in developing nations
  • Student team from Navajo Nation representing North America
  • 12 all-girls teams participate in this year’s robotics competition 

WHY:

The mission of FIRST Global is to inspire science and technology leadership and innovation in young people from all nations to increase understanding, instill the importance of cooperation, address the world’s most pressing issues, and improve the quality of life for all. By showing the youth of the world that if they communicate, cooperate and work together – even in a competition – using the tools of science and engineering to find solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, they will be able to accomplish great things and become part of a truly global community.

INTERVIEWS:

  • Dean Kamen, accomplished inventor and founder of FIRST Global 
  • Ricardo Salinas, chairman of Grupo Salinas, host and chairman of the 2018 FIRST® Global Challenge and founding member of FIRST Global
  • Student teams from around the world

CONTACT:
For press inquiries, please contact press@first.global or Brooke Blew: +1 (585) 315-9045, bblew@firstinspires.org

عنا FIRST Global
FIRST Global Mission: The FIRST Global mission is to inspire science and technology leadership and innovation in young people from all nations in order to increase understanding, instill the importance of cooperation, address the world’s most pressing issues and improve quality of life for all. This mission is accomplished through the FIRST Global Challenge, which culminates with an international robotics game that will rotate among different nations each year. By showing the youth of the world that if they communicate, cooperate, and work together using the tools of science and engineering to find solutions to the world’s grand challenges – water, energy, security, medicine, food, and education – they will be able to accomplish great things and become part of a truly global community.

FIRST Global Challenge: The FIRST Global Challenge is an annual robotics competition that will address one of the 14 Grand Challenges identified by the national engineering academies of the United States, United Kingdom and China. Each year, a different issue of global importance will take center stage as the theme of that year’s FIRST Global Challenge, which will be held in a different nation across the world. Official Sponsors of the 2018 FIRST Global Challenge sponsors include: Bezos Family Foundation, TE Connectivity Foundation, Qualcomm, Royalty Pharma/Alianzia AMZA, DeKa Foundation, Intel, Shell, Baker Hughes GE, FedEx, Tec de Monterrey, and MexiChem.

FIRST Global’s Global STEM Corps: The Global STEM Corps (GSC) is FIRST Global’s 21st century answer to a world in need of an inspired generation of young adults ready to tackle global challenges. Through GSC, grassroots volunteers work to motivate students across the globe to pursue fulfilling, exciting, and rewarding lives through STEM education by mentoring them for an “Olympics”-style robotics event. These community-based volunteers range from civic-minded high school and college students, to entire university robotics and engineering departments. The STEM Corps brings the universal elements of science, cooperation and competition to the world stage by connecting mentors and FIRST Global competitors online and over the phone – making it possible to stay in touch anytime, anywhere.

FIRST Global’s Higher Education Network: Leading universities around the world including Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Yale and Technion are among the founding members of the FIRST Global Higher Education Network. Participating institutions in the FIRST Global Higher Education Network are partnered with their nation’s FIRST Global robotics team and provide them with technical mentoring (on the tasks associated with designing, building, and programming FIRST Global robots) and guidance to inspire the next generations of leaders in STEM.

FIRST Global Founder: Dean Kamen is a prolific inventor, entrepreneur and tireless advocate for science and technology innovation. His roles as an inventor and an advocate are intertwined with his passion for practical, real world uses of technology, and his personal determination to spread excitement for and the virtues of STEM to the more than two billion youths around the world. Dean’s drive comes from his firm belief that the tools of science and engineering will help equip the world’s youth to solve the most pressing global challenges we face as a planet, both today and tomorrow.



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