Media Invitation - The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal welcomes Laurent Beaudoin, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, FIRST Robotics Quebec, Gabriel Bran Lopez, Co-founder, FIRST Robotics Quebec, and Dean Kamen, Founder, FIRST

Science and technology: Preparing emerging leaders

MONTREAL, March 14, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Media representatives are invited to attend a business luncheon of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal on Thursday, March 15, at noon. On this occasion, three guest speakers will discuss the challenges regarding persistence in school and training a qualified work force for the science and technology industry.

Guest speakers:

Laurent Beaudoin
Chairman of the Board, Bombardier Inc.
Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, FIRST Robotics Quebec

Gabriel Bran Lopez
Founding Executive Director, Youth Fusion
Co-founder, FIRST Robotics Quebec

Dean Kamen
President, Deka Research & Development Corporation
Founder, FIRST

Over the last few years, Quebec businesses, universities, and the school milieu have rallied in order to involve youth in robotics projects in order to nurture their engineering talent and to promote student retention in schools. This was the impetus behind the creation of Quebec's first Robotics Festival, which aims to allow youth to put their scientific knowledge into practice and to inspire them to become Quebec's creators and innovators of tomorrow.

Date:	Thursday, March 15, 2012
Time:	From noon to 2 p.m. Speeches - 12:15 p.m.
Place:	Hilton Montreal Bonaventure 900 de La Gauchetière Street West Montréal

The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.

Please confirm your attendance with Sylvie Paquette, Advisor, Media Relations, by phone at 514 871-4000, ext. 4015, or by email at [email protected].