BIF-2 Summit Notes: Dean Kamen
Dean Kamen came up to talk about FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). The problem he discussed was the decline of science knowledge in the US. Even though we’re talking about this now, it’s a problem that’s been going on for a long time.
The US responded to this problem with standards, testings, computers in the classroom, and more, but it didn’t fix it. This stated the problem as supply and demand. Kamen wanted to look at it as a Demand and Supply problem, which is the basis of FIRST. He made it more like sports: coaches not teachers, nurture not judgment, cheerleaders, etc. He went looking for sports stars of science. They formed FIRST. They set up a robotics competition in cooperation with engineers from major corporations, and the engineers said they got more out of it than the kids. In the fifth year, they outgrew their digs in Manchester, and moved it to Epcot Center. Five years later, they even outgrew Disney, and set up regional events with the finals at the Houston Astrodome! The next year they were at the Georgia Dome.
38% of the kids on the teams were women and minorities. Their “little league” uses the Lego Kits.
Brandeis University Study, funded by the Ford Foundation: FIRST participants are 50% more likely to attend colege; 3x more likely to major in engineering; 9x more likely to have freshman year internshps. Female participants were 3x more likely to pursue technology and engineering in college.
Announcement: RI will be the first state in the US to make FIRST available to every high school. Kamen will challenge every other state to follow RI’s lead.