Meridian High School, Falls Church, VA
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supports STEM education, working to ensure that underrepresented and underserved students have equal access to learning and workforce opportunities. The success of our decarbonization initiatives depends on having a strong and diverse pipeline of STEM talent for energy careers.
Every year, the competition has a theme and a game. The theme for the 2024 competition is the role STEM plays in creating art and experiences that bring us together, entertain us, and move us. The 2024 game, CRESCENDO, launched on January 6 and will see two competing alliances race to score musical notes with their robots, amplify their speaker, harmonize onstage, and take the spotlight before time runs out.
The 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition is projected to reach 86,700 students across nearly 3,500 teams—300 of which are brand new to the competition this year. Teams come from nearly every state in the United States, as well as many other countries.
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is sponsoring the FIRST Chesapeake District competitions in Falls Church, Virginia, on March 22-23, 2024. Winners of these competitions will advance to the Chesapeake District Championship on April 6–8, 2024 in Petersburg, Virginia. Teams competing at regional competitions will also have the chance to advance to the 2024 FIRST World Championships in Houston, Texas, on April 17–20, 2024. Approximately 30,000 attendees are expected in Houston, including the top international teams and American teams.
Find more STEM events and deadlines on the DOE STEM calendar.