The state FIRST LEGO League Challenge comes to Georgia Tech in February.

Alumni, staff, faculty and student volunteers are needed to assist at the state FIRST LEGO League Challenge Feb. 9 at the Georgia Tech Student Center. No assembly is required.

The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing are co-hosting the event, scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to serve as referees, scorekeepers, scorekeeper assistants, queue runners, pit monitors, food coordinators, judges' assistants, judges and registration table attendants.

FIRST — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — is an organization founded to inspire interest in science and engineering among young people. The theme for this challenge is "Power Puzzle: Energy Sources Meeting the Global Demand," which gives youngsters ages 9 to 14 a chance to examine personal energy choices in heating homes, fueling cars, charging cell phones, powering computers and even downloading music to iPods and how these choices impact the environment, economy and life around the globe.

Last year, 140 teams participated in five qualifier tournaments held prior to the state competition at Tech to narrow the field to 48 teams. This year, 220 teams are competing in nine qualifiers involving 1,600 students; organizers expect 48 teams to advance to the Feb. 9 event.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Jeff Davis, an associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, at (404) 894-4770 or jeff.davis@ece.gatech.edu.