Students Travel to Moscow for Idaho TECH: Mars Rover Challenge
Wednesday, April 26 2006
April 26, 2006 MOSCOW- More than 400 fifth and sixth grade students will converge on the University of Idaho’s Memorial Gym as part of the Idaho TECH: Mars Rover Challenge April 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium’s Teaching Engineering to Children (TECH) Challenge encourages girls and boys to explore their engineering abilities. Students use LEGOsâ to create a motorized Mars rover. Then the teams of 4-6 students test the rover’s ability to maneuver between obstacles, climb steep hills and pick up small objects, among other things. Teams from Athol, Cocolalla, Cottonwood, Genesee, Grangeville, Lapwai, Lewiston, Moscow, Nezperce, Oldtown, Post Falls, Potlatch, Priest River, Rathdrum, Sagle, Sandpoint, and Spirit Lake will compete in the North Idaho Competition. The top five winners from the North Idaho event will compete for the state championship later in the day against finalists from the South Idaho competition, which was held in Twin Falls on April 22. Idaho TECH is part of the festivities for Idaho’s Space Week (April 23-29). There will also be activities for students and a special guest speaker: Lisa Spence, of the Johnson Space Center. Spence currently leads a functional analysis team for Johnson’s Constellation Program Office, which is working to develop the spacecraft and support systems for human missions to the moon and to Mars. Media representatives are welcome at all Idaho TECH events. The best photo opportunities are from 9-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3 p.m. when students test their rovers on the different courses. The NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium was established in 1991 as part of the NASA National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. The ISGC is comprised of 22 institutions including all colleges and universities in the state, science centers and museums, science organizations, state departments, industry representatives, a state park, and a national monument. Press Contacts: April Christenson 208-885-6438 or 208-413-0321, isgc@uidaho.edu, isgc.uidaho.edu Leah AndrewsM 208-885-6030 or 208-596-2046, leah@uidaho.edu # # # About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. The only institution in the state earning the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity, University of Idaho researchers attract more than $100 million in research grants and contracts each year. UI’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Its high academic performers include 34 National Merit Scholars and a 2005-06 freshman class with an average high school grade point average of 3.42. Offering 106 degree options in nine colleges, UI combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.