29 Aug FIRST Global Announces Bezos Earth Fund and Tullman Family Office as Gold Sponsors of 2023 FIRST Global Robotics Challenge
Washington, D.C. – August 29th, 2023 – FIRST Global, a nonprofit inspiring science and technology leadership and innovation in young people from all nations through the sport of robotics, is delighted to announce the Bezos Earth Fund and Tullman Family Office as the official Gold sponsors of the 2023 FIRST Global Challenge. This year’s event, revolving around the theme “Hydrogen Horizons”, will be held in Singapore from October 7-10, 2023.
Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST Global, thanked the two organizations for their generous support. “At FIRST Global, we aim to tackle real-world challenges that demand innovative solutions. With the support of the Bezos Earth Fund and Tullman Family Office, we are confident that this year’s FIRST Global Challenge will not only spur further interest in STEM, but also guide our youth towards a brighter, more sustainable future.”
Each year the FIRST Global Challenge brings together high school-aged youth from over 190 countries for the world’s most international robotics competition. This year’s “Hydrogen Horizons” theme charges teams with building a robot and navigating it through a simulated environment to produce hydrogen and then store, transport, and convert energy. During the competition, teams will work together in randomly selected multi-country alliances to score points, a practice which encourages global cooperation and fosters mutual understanding.
Additionally, FIRST Global teams compete in an innovation competition known as the New Technology Experience (NTE). This year, the NTE theme “Energy Evolution” guides teams in learning about all types of renewable energy, including hydrogen technologies, and the steps to create a clean energy future. FIRST Global teams will then research and develop their own innovative solutions to advance the implementation of and improve access to renewable energy.
The generous support from the Bezos Earth Fund and Tullman Family Office will make it possible for the next generation of STEM leaders to explore, innovate, and drive the future of hydrogen technology, ensuring a sustainable energy landscape for years to come.
“Like FIRST Global’s founder Dean Kamen, we view no issue as unsolvable, and are committed to supporting creative, scalable solutions to tackle our world’s most challenging problems,” said Cayley Tullman, President of the Tullman Family Office. “The ethos of FIRST Global, centered on openness and gracious professionalism, is sorely needed to improve the quality of our global engagements and increase cross border cooperation. FIRST Global participants – our future international leaders – will usher in a new era of problem-solving.”
“After seeing the FIRST Global student competition firsthand, it’s inspiring to observe the next generation of young people so engaged and passionate about addressing global challenges,” said Kelly Levin, Chief of Science, Data, and Systems Change at the Bezos Earth Fund. “As champions of innovative solutions to solve the climate crisis, the Bezos Earth Fund is proud to partner with FIRST Global to enable students to contribute their own technological solutions for renewable energy development and deployment.”
About the Bezos Earth Fund
The Bezos Earth Fund is Jeff Bezos’s $10 billion commitment to fund scientists, activists, NGOs, and other actors that will drive climate and nature solutions. By allocating funds creatively, wisely, and boldly, the Earth Fund has the potential for transformative influence in this decisive decade. Funds will be fully allocated by 2030 — the date by which the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals must be achieved.
About the Tullman Family Office
The Tullman Family Office works to realize the potential of all Americans through targeted investments in philanthropic causes and community ventures that help people live healthier and more prosperous lives, and enable businesses to focus more on social impact. Our mission is to unlock the potential of individuals and communities by creating opportunities that promote personal growth, economic mobility, and a more equitable society.
About FIRST Global
FIRST Global’s mission is to inspire science and technology leadership and innovation in youth 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. Bringing these future STEM leaders together in an engaging and collaborative competition drives home the importance, excitement, and applicability of STEM education and demonstrates that they can work together — even in competition — to find solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. Learn more at first.global.
Press Contact:
Matt Stalford
press@first.global
+1 (484) 574-2660
