Hundreds of youth from Lincoln and nearby towns will improve the quality of food by finding ways to prevent food contamination at a Dec. 10 FIRST LEGO® Robotics event. FOOD FACTOR™ Challenge will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Nebraska East Union on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus.
Admission is free to the public. Selected teams will qualify for the Nebraska First Lego League Championship Tournament scheduled for February at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland.
FOOD FACTOR presents a real-world challenge in a broad view, showing children how scientists, engineers, government agencies and food producers work together to find solutions and inspiring children to use their own imaginations and creativity in combination with science and technology to make food safer to eat.
Members from 30 teams will explore the topic of food safety and examine the possible points of contamination our food encounters – from exposure to insects and creatures, to unsterile processing and transportation, to unsanitary preparation and storage – then find ways to prevent or combat these contaminates.
At the tournament, teams will demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of community. Local university, nonprofit and corporate science and technology professionals will be tournament judges and referees.
The competition is judged in five areas: research and presentation, robot performance, technical mechanics of the robot's construction, teamwork and gracious professionalism. The highest honor will go to the team that best exemplifies the spirit and values of the program. Medals will be awarded to participants and trophies will be awarded to teams.
For more information about FIRST® LEGO® League challenge, visit GEAR-Tech 21 or contact Tracy Pracheil at 402-472-9016, 402-643-1778 or e-mail tpracheil2@unl.edu.
The event is hosted by UNL Extension's 4-H Youth Development Program.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/jt3