Dean Kamen is an inventor extraordinaire. Most people know him from the Segway saga (remember "Ginger" in those heady days of '01?) But he's made his fortune, and a true difference in millions of lives, through innovations in medical devices (auto pumps for drug delivery, heart stents) and assisted mobility. Kamen is also passionate about kids, and how applied science can inspire learning and connection in kids. His FIRST program, which puts robotics competitions into high schools around the US, has grown dramatically over the past twenty years. Started with a few high schools in New Hampshire, it is now in every state in the US, and the annual championships fill the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. By borrowing a page from professional sports- teams, tournaments, standings - Kamen is making hands-on science competitive, exciting, and fun.

The results from FIRST are pretty amazing. Kamen had a bunch of stats from an independent study funded by the Ford Foundation, but the one that struck me is that kids who participate in FIRST are 50% more likely to go to college, and women who participate are 3 times more likely to pursue science and technology degrees.

So when Congressman Jim Langevin rolled onstage in his custom designed iBot wheelchair,  I could tell there was an announcement coming.  Another clue would have been  the robots set up in the front lobby, including the  transparent Lost In Space style basketball playing model from a high school team in Middletown, Rhode Island.  And the announcement was a good one, with  Kamen's FIRST program partnering with the RI Economic Development Corporation to roll out  VEXX robotic kits to every high school in the state. This makes RI the first state with every high school participating in FIRST, which enables Kamen to throw down the gauntlet for every other state.