For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST, and the LEGO Group reportedly announced the FIRST LEGO League or FLL 2010 season Challenge theme titled “Body Forward”. The LEGO Group strives to develop children’ creative and imaginative abilities through creative educational play materials.

 

FIRST is an organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen designed to inspire youngsters to take part in science and technology. Every year FLL selects a Challenge theme which will be a real-world issue to create awareness on how science and technology can help solve problems.

 

In “Body Forward” children will be encouraged to discover ways to repair injuries, overcome genetic predispositions, and maximize the body’s potential, to lead a better life, said FLL sources.

 

“FIRST thanks FLL’s expert advisors for sharing their time and knowledge to develop a robotics and research Challenge that helps children discover how imagination and creativity combined with science and technology can reduce the impact of disease on the everyday life of individuals,” said FIRST president, Paul R. Gudonis, in a statement. “‘Body Forward’ provides a fresh perspective to these critical health issues.”

 

The FLL Challenge consists of two parts, the Research Project phase and Robot Game phase. In the Research Project phase teams are given a research assignment according to the annual theme. In the Robot Game phase teams build and program robots to complete theme-related missions. About 180,000 children ages nine to 16 are expected to participate in the competition from around the world.

 

FLL is an international program created in partnership between FIRST and The LEGO Group. Using LEGO MINDSTORMS technologies children can work with adults and design, build and program robots for completing tasks based on real-world challenges.

 

“I am excited to spark children’s curiosity and wonder about the incredible workings of living things through the FLL ‘Body Forward’ Challenge,” said Thomas C. Skalak, vice president for research and professor of biomedical engineering, University of Virginia, in a statement.

 

Biomedical engineering is the future of preventative medicine, and these talented potential young scientists will be part of the discovery and development of solutions for living systems in future, Skalak said.

 

FIRST designs accessible innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills for motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering.