MANCHESTER, N.H., Apr 14, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — More than 10,000 students from 28 countries and 533 custom-built robots will swarm Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, April 16-18, to compete in the FIRST(TM) (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship, and discover the excitement of science and technology. As students engage in three robotics competitions under one roof, FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST LEGO(R) League, FIRST founder Dean Kamen believes the career skills they are developing will contribute to a brighter economic future.

“Today, facing the challenges of our fragile global economy and climate change, and addressing worldwide public health concerns, we need innovative thinkers to help solve society’s increasingly-complex problems,” said Kamen. “Handling robotics challenges and working alongside professional engineers, FIRST students develop the skills necessary to be the architects of the solutions we need.”