WHO: UNLV's Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering will play host to more than 1,500 high school students on 48 teams from throughout the nation - including 14 Clark County School District high schools - during the fifth annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition.

WHEN: Friday, March 27, 2009
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, March 28, 2009
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 "Lunacy," during which two teams of three robots race around a low-friction 54' by 27' field to collect and score variable point "Orbit Balls" in trailers attached to opposing teams' robots. Human players positioned around the perimeter can also score by tossing balls into robot payload trailers. The more points, or Orbit Balls, in the opponent's trailer determines the winners.

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