Summary Notes on The ASME Guide on FIRST and Universities, 8 pages, Presented by Dean Kamen, Main Plenary Speaker, 2001 ASEE Albuquerque Conference, 25 June 2001.

Summarized by J. T. P. Yao, 6/29/01

"There has never been more of a demand for engineers. With such problems as growing world population and limited resources as well as an increasing need for energy and the threats of pollution, there is no shortage of problems for engineers to solve. … As the number of challenges the world faces increases at a tremendous rate, the number of people educated to solve these problems must also increase at a tremendous rate. … Simply put, the engineering profession is not supplying the number of professionals that the world is calling for."

"One reason the engineering profession is not attracting the needed cadre of problem solvers stems from the fact that our nation tends to glamorize and celebrate entertainers such as sports heroes, movie stars, and musical performers. Is it any wonder then that a young student would dream of being a professional athlete before considering a career as an engineer? … Students, at the earliest age, must see engineering, science and technology as opportunities that are fun, rewarding and achievable. They must be inspired to learn."

"FIRST is a national non-profit organization which inspires youth to pursue further study, experience and careers in engineering and technical fields. … In 2001, over a million dollars in scholarships were awarded to FIRST participants by Clarkson University, Daniel Webster College, Drexel University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Kettering University, Northeastern University, Olin College of Engineering, Polytechnic University, Purdue University, San Jose State University, University of Detroit Mercy, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. These colleges and universities recognized the value of making their program highly visible to the students involved in FIRST."

[The speaker complained that relatively few universities are actively involved in the FIRST programs. The industries, on the other hand, are easily convinced to join them.]

"To reach younger students, universities have also hosted FIRST Lego League tournaments which bring as many as 2,000 9-14 year old students and their parents to the college campus for one day. … Beyond these very public means of involvement, university faculty, staff and students have been important volunteers for FIRST."

"There are a number of formats that have been used by universities to sponsor FIRST teams. For example, some university students are involved on FIRST teams as part of their engineering professional society student sections. … In other programs, participation in FIRST is part of the engineering curriculum and the university students receive college credit for their involvement. …"

"As a nation, we need to showcase the very best of this nation and present youth with real heroes - educators, business and government leaders, engineers, scientists, and technologists - heroes that these students can in turn become. … FIRST inspires, motivates, and prepares students to become the next generation of technology heroes."

"For information on how your university can be involved in FIRST, or contact a university faculty member that participates in FIRST, please call the Director of the FIRST Robotics Program, Bob Hammond at 800-871-8326, ext. 404 (rah@usfirst.org) or the Director of the FIRST Lego League, Anna Maenhout at 800-871 ext. 405 (maenhout@usfirst.org). Information on FIRST can be found on the FIRST web site at www.usfirst.org or by calling 800-871-8326. …"

[Readers who are interested in this article are encouraged to read the original paper in its entirety. Other summary notes on faculty reward systems are available on the Internet at http://lohman.tamu.edu under the heading "Summaries of Papers ..."]

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