FIRST to Become Technion’s Leading Pre-University Program

This week, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Israel became the leading pre-university program of Technion. The agreement, signed by Technion President, Professor Peretz Lavie, and the Chairman of FIRST Israel, Lieutenant General (retired) Avihu Ben Nun, specifies that the program will become an official educational project of the Technion.

FIRST is an international non-profit organization that hosts competitions and events in the area of robotics. Its mission is to motivate teenagers to engage in science, engineering and technology. The organization was established over twenty years ago by Segway inventor and founder Dean Kamen, an advocate for encouraging curiosity and exposure of youth to the challenges facing the engineering and scientific world.

FIRST initiatives in Israel began nine years, and since its founding has received support by the Technion and partially by the Israel Technion Society (ITS). Today, Technion has given the program its full patronage.

Over the past year, some 250,000 students participated in a variety of FIRST programs across the world, including 5,000 Israeli students between the ages of 6-18 years. These students were exposed to the fascinating world of science and technology through various robot building competitions.

Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie, welcomed the initiative and said, “Technion is the natural place for students interested in pursuing and advancing in the fields of engineering, technology and science.”

For more information on FIRST programs in Israel, see: www.firstisrael.org.il

For FIRST programs around the world see: www.usfirst.org

Students at a FIRST Israel Robotics program. Photographed by Avishy Finklestien and FIRST Israel