News Release

WHEN:	Saturday, April 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Best Photo-Video Opportunity: 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.
WHERE:	The Glass Pavilion inside Levering Hall at The Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Md.
WHO:	Sixteen teams from Maryland high schools and two middle schools will put their high-tech skills to the test in the first Robotic System Challenge. Each team will consist of two to four students. The all-day event will be supervised by Johns Hopkins engineering students who are officers in the Computer-Integrated Surgery Student Research Society.
WHAT:	Some teams will program small robots to move from a starting point to a finish line, passing though a series of "gates." Others must equip their robots with sensors so the devices can find their way through a mystery maze. Still other teams will be required to locate "tumors" (large dark circles) within an enclosure representing the brain and send out a signal each time a tumor is discovered. Some students will present oral reports and demonstrations regarding a new and innovative use for their small robots. Judging will be done by graduate and undergraduate students from the Whiting School of Engineering.
WHY:	The event is designed to interest pre- college students in educational and career opportunities in engineering and science. In addition to the contests, participants will hear from guest speakers in the field, including an expert on the use of computers and robotics in medicine. Representatives from Johns Hopkins and other area colleges and universities will answer questions and provide admissions materials.
MEDIA CONTACT AT THE EVENT:	Cynthia Ramey, director of education, Johns Hopkins University Engineering Research Center for Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology. (Before the event, Ramey can be reached at 410-516- 6841.) More details are at this Web site: www.cisst.org/RoboticSystemChallenge2006.