FIRST FIRST

March 24, 2003 Issue

The University of Pittsburgh hosted regional semifinals for the city’s first FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science, and Technology) robotics competition March 13-15 in the Petersen Events Center. The competition drew hundreds of high school students from as far away as Michigan and North Carolina. Bopaya Bidanda, professor and chair of Pitt’s Department of Electrical Engineering, and Mike Lovell, associate professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Swanson Center for Product Innovation, delivered keynote speeches. Bidanda and a group of Pitt engineering students assisted the Taylor Allderdice Peabody High School team with its entry. In the photograph, Taylor Allderdice teacher and faculty advisor Joe Abraham (at right) points out a potential problem to team members (from left) David Lloyd, Leon Yurovsky, and Alex Beliansiwov.