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JUNEAU - On Saturday, Dec. 10, Juneau will host the 5th annual Juneau Robot Jamboree, the Southeast regional qualifier for Alaska's FIRST LEGO League. Nineteen teams from six different communities in Southeast will compete in an all-day event at Centennial Hall. Spectators are encouraged to attend and cheer on the teams and their robots. The event will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the most spectator-friendly time will be between 1 and 3 p.m.

To successfully complete the Food Factor Challenge, teams of students ages 9-14 conduct research to build and program a robot to explore the ways in which food can become contaminated - from exposure to insects and creatures, to unsterile processing and transportation, to unsanitary preparation and unsafe storage - then propose real-world solutions for preventing or combating these contaminates. Through hands-on experience and working in teams, children have a chance to explore a real-world issue to gain an appreciation for and interest in science and technology.

FIRST activities in Alaska are coordinated by the Juneau Economic Development Council's SpringBoard program. SpringBoard is actively seeking volunteers and sponsors for all 2011-2012 FIRST activities across the state. For more information, contact Becca Parks at 523-2334 or rparks@jedc.org. For 2011-2012 FIRST tournament schedules and team listings, visit www.fllalaska.com.