More than 1,000 areamiddle-school students will demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creativethinking and teamwork as they pit their customized robots against each other inthe "Climate Connection" Challenge. The event is part of the FIRST LEGO League(FLL), an international program for 9- to 14-year-old children created inpartnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science andTechnology) and The LEGO Group. Since September, 72 teams of students have beenresearching climate change and programming their robots to undertake missions relatedto greenhouse gases, wildlife and the changing climate. Teams also will havethe opportunity to participate in the U.S. Open Championship at Wright StateUniversity in Dayton, Ohio, May 7-9.

Saturday, Dec. 6. The awards ceremony begins at 4 p.m.For interviews on site, pleasecontact Robin Shoop, director of the Robotics Academy, or Norman Kerman,education coordinator. For results afterward, please contact Kerman at 412-656-5673.