Researchers of Tomorrow

Young technology heroes from Norway and Denmark spent a dream day at Statoil's research centre in Trondheim.

Steffen Lehre and Line Grina Rossum from Team Extreme, Gjøvik, examine the difference between acid and alkaline solutions. Research done in the laboratory covers acid oils and corrosion among other things. (Photos: Jorun Hegna/Statoil)

The Dauerkraft team from Aalborg in Denmark won Scandinavia's biggest technology contest for children and young people, the First Lego League (FLL) in 2008. As an extra prize they won a trip to Norway.

In Trondheim the young technologists met the Norwegian winners, Team Extreme from Gjøvik, north of Oslo.

Together they got to see and experience research activities first-hand. The programme included laboratory visits, workroom activities and a creative cafe with singing, games and surprises.

Andreas Makinen Andersen (left) and Pernille Pedersen from Aalborg in Denmark get their robots ready for the mini competition with the Norwegian team from Gjøvik.

Inspiration and curiosity are important elements in becoming a successful researcher. This is emphasised in the FLL competition which aims to stimulate an interest in science subjects among children and young people.

Ready for world final
Practice makes perfect. The two teams took the opportunity to get ready for the FLL world final in Copenhagen on 1-3 May with a mini robot competition.

The youngsters will represent Scandinavia and compete with 43 teams from all over the world, with climate challenge as the theme. New collaboration agreement Statoil is strengthening its long collaboration with the FLL and is now to be main sponsor for First Lego League Scandinavia as part of the group's Heroes of Tomorrow campaign. "This is an element of our focus on science subjects," says Leif Lømo, project manager in Technology & New Energy. "We want to team up with those who are responsible for education and those who have the resources to implement measures which enthuse youngsters, like the foundation behind FLL, First Scandinavia."

FIRST® LEGO® League Signs Three-Year Sponsorship With Statoil

Statoil extends existing sponsorship to support robotic program globally

MANCHESTER, N.H., and STAVANGER, Norway, December 17, 2010 ― FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a not-for-profit organization that inspires young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, announced today that Norwegian energy company Statoil, a long-running regional sponsor of FIRST^® LEGO^® League (FLL^®), has signed up as an FLL Global Sponsor – the highest sponsorship level granted by FIRST LEGO League – for an initial three years.

"Our world is facing major challenges. FIRST LEGO League gets children excited about science and technology and teaches them how to solve problems and make positive contributions to society,” says Michele Wood, Vice President, Communications, Statoil USA & Mexico. "We’re pleased to give our support to talented young people in sport, culture, and education, helping them to become the heroes of tomorrow."

Statoil’s commitment of close to $1 million over three years will bolster the FLL global program efforts and fund teams and FLL tournaments in Houston, Texas, and Calgary, Alberta in the first year, with additional local tournaments added globally in years two and three. The agreement also offers Statoil employees opportunities for local engagement as FLL Mentors and Volunteers.

Statoil, which has sponsored FLL in Scandinavia for 10 years, extended the partnership to engage and inspire even more students globally in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In the 2010-2011 season, more than 170,000 children from 56 countries are expected to participate in FLL.

“Statoil clearly shares the FIRST philosophy that today’s culture can be positively transformed by inspiring young people,” said FIRST President Jon Dudas. "With its generous contribution to the FIRST LEGO League program, Statoil helps us turn the FIRST vision of inspiring young people's interest and participation in science and technology into a reality.”

FIRST LEGO League Director Anna Maenhout said, “The importance of pairing our children with an engaged and accomplished group of committed adults cannot be overestimated. Professionals such as those at Statoil will help to promote FLL excellence and core values to our young people worldwide.”

About Statoil

Statoil is an international energy company with operations in 34 countries. Building on more than 35 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, it is committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business solutions. It is headquartered in Norway with 20,000 employees worldwide, and is listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.

About FIRST^®

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and more than $14 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST^® Robotics Competition (FRC^®) and FIRST^® Tech Challenge (FTC^®) for high-school students, FIRST^® LEGO^® League (FLL^®) for 9 to 14-year-olds (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada), and Junior FIRST^® LEGO^® League (Jr.FLL™) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism™ is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

Media Contacts:

Shana Benzinane, FIRST 603-206-2454

Michele Wood, Statoil Ph: 713-878-6962

Are you working on the next "Must Have" Idea?

Coaches:

Have you been following our hints about patents? Did your team’s Body Forward Project give you an amazing idea for a new product or process?  If so, we’ve got some more REALLY BIG news to give you!

FLL is launching its first ever awards program where the prize is seeing your team’s idea up in lights (well, at least well on its way to becoming a household name). The FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award is designed to help make your team’s great idea a reality!  With the help of some really great supporters of innovation you will have the chance to win a CASH prize you can use to file a United States patent, create a prototype and get it well on its way to becoming one of those “can’t live without it” inventions like the microwave and cell phone.

Why a patent?
Filing for a patent will help protect your idea while you fine-tune your concept and develop your working model.  It’s also great for helping you get the support of others in bringing your idea to market.

What to do RIGHT NOW?
Don’t wait to get started! Think about your 2010 Body Forward FLL Project and imagine what your idea could mean if you could share it with the world.  You can protect your idea right now with a provisional application for a patent. Visit the USPTO website for filing instructions: http://www.uspto.gov/patents/resources/types/provapp.jsp

And the winner gets…
In addition to the cash prize, your team will be invited to attend an awards ceremony where you will be honored and get a head start on making sure your patent is noticed.

How to enter…how to get votes
FLL will be launching the Global Innovation Award website in mid-January. Once live, you can enter your team’s submission and let everyone you know where to vote for your idea.  The teams with the most votes will have their ideas reviewed by our award selection panel of experts. Only FLL teams registered for the current season will be eligible. 

Stay tuned.  We can’t wait to tell you more in the coming weeks.

With High 5's and Admiration,
FLL Team Support
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Stay Connected with FLL!
Twitter (@firstlegoleague)| YouTube (youtube.com/fllglobal)|FLL Blog (fllblog.wordpress.com)

2010 Body Forward Stop Animation

UNOFFICIAL video created for the Body Forward season. The project was headed up by Ryan Yarbrough and his FRC team, all former FLLers (FIRST LEGO League)

The Inner Life Of The Cell Harvard University

The FIRST LEGO League Body Forward season is all about the meeting of engineering and human biology. Use this video to get your FIRST LEGO League students interested in the inner workings of the human body.