Robots Take Over the New York Hall of Science

Press Release

Queens, N.Y. – More than 100 students throughout the tri-state region will participate in a unique robotics competition, which will be held at the New York Hall of Science on May 3. Visitors can watch the competition from 1:30 - 4 pm. The RoboCupJunior Regional Tournament will test the computer science and programming skills of students ages 19 and younger as they compete in three challenges: dance, soccer and rescue. Winners will be selected in each category.

Working in teams, students build robots and bring them to the tournament to compete in one of the three RoboCupJunior challenges. In the dance challenge, robots wear costumes and move creatively to music. The soccer challenge consists of two-on-two teams of robots playing a soccer game with an electronic ball on an enclosed tabletop. In the rescue challenge, robots race to identify victims in recreated disaster scenarios. Winners in each category will be eligible to receive an invitation to the 2009 International RoboCupJunior tournament in Graz, Austria in July.

RoboCupJunior provides an exciting, hands-on introduction to the field of robotic science. The initiative began in 1998 with a demonstration at RoboCup in Paris. In 2000, 25 teams participated in the first international RoboCupJunior tournament in Melbourne, Australia. More than 250 teams are expected to compete in the 2009 international tournament.

RoboCupJunior (RCJ) is a project-oriented educational initiative that sponsors local, regional and international robotic events for young students through age 19. The focus of RCJ is on education. For more information, visit www.robocupjunior.org.

The New York Hall of Science is New York City’s hands-on science and technology center. More than 400 interactive exhibits explore the wonder and excitement of biology, chemistry and physics. In May, the Hall is open from 9:30 am – 2 pm Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am – 5 pm on Friday, and from 10 am – 6 pm on weekends. Admission is $11 for adults and $8 for children (ages 2-17), college students with valid ID, and seniors (62+).

###

Media contact: Carol Nordin 718.699.0005 extension 342