WHAT: UNLV's Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering will host more than 1,200 high school students on 48 teams from throughout the nation - including 10 Clark County School District high schools - during the sixth annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition.

WHEN: April 2-3, 2010

Friday, April 2, 2010
8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Matches 9:50 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Awards 4:30 p.m.
(break noon to 1 p.m.)

Saturday, April 3, 2010
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Matches 9:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Final Rounds 1 to 3 p.m.
Awards 3 p.m. (break noon to 1 p.m.)

WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV

DETAILS: The event is free and open to the public. All the excitement of a championship football game, but with much more at stake-the FIRST Robotics competition combines elements of sport with science and technology in a high-energy, team-driven contest that has inspired thousands of high school students to pursue careers in science and engineering.

The theme of this year's event is "Breakaway," during which two teams of three robots compete on a bumpy 54' by 27' field, earning points by scoring soccer balls in goals. Additional points are awarded for robots suspended in the air and not touching the game service at the end of the match. Each ball in goal is worth one point; an elevated robot is worth two points; an elevated robot lifted by a team member's bot is worth three points.

For a complete list of teams and additional event information, contact Tony Allen at 895-0893.