Montana State University will host robotics competitions for Montana youth on Feb. 3-4, drawing dozens of teams from across the state. The events are free and open to the public.

FIRST Lego League teams, composed of students in grades 4-8, have spent months building and programming robots made from Lego kits and will compete by performing "missions" on pool table-sized playing fields. Students from grades 7-12 compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge with more complex robots in a larger arena. FIRST Lego Junior teams include students in grades K-4.

FIRST Tech Challenge begins Friday, Feb. 3 with an opening ceremony in Shroyer Gym starting at 10:30 a.m., followed by qualification round running 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and championship matches from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m.

FIRST Lego League begins on Saturday, Feb. 4, in Inspiration Hall in Norm Asbjornson Hall, with an opening ceremony at 1 p.m., followed by team rounds until 3 p.m. and a closing ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

Both events will be livestreamed at www.youtube.com/@mtra-stream.

FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is a nonprofit that aims to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology; to motivate them to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math; and to encourage team-building, imagination and critical thinking skills.

"FIRST is a wonderful program exposing students to STEM and the engineering design process," said Loribeth Evertz, outreach coordinator for MSU's Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. "We strive to make a lasting impression and hope that the students continue to explore and develop their design and problem-solving skills."

MSU has been involved with the Montana chapter of FIRST since 2007. It was initially orchestrated by the Montana Space Grant Consortium and is now organized through the engineering college.

A detailed schedule for FLL and other information can be found at http://www.montana.edu/first.

Details for FTC can be found at www.montana.edu/first/FTC.html.