New Wave Media

The Fifth National SeaPerch Challenge welcomes 140 middle school and high school student teams from around the country to compete on May 30, 2015 at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

 

The students designed, built and tested their SeaPerch underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in their local, district and regional events, and the winners were invited to compete in the National SeaPerch Challenge. These teams will gather at the Tripp Athletic Center to test their skills and designs by putting their SeaPerch ROVs through a series of underwater challenges and will present their ROV designs and adaptations in a juried poster event.

 

The Fifth National SeaPerch Challenge is the fulfillment of the U.S. Navy’s vision to showcase future science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent on the national stage. Experiencing in person the benefits of hands-on learning, innovation and competition and sharing the excitement and enthusiasm generated by these students is proof positive of the resounding success of the Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored SeaPerch Educational Outreach Program.

 

Close to 100 volunteers from the Navy, local educational institutions, corporations, government as well as students have volunteered their time to support the event, and over 800 participants are expected. Invited speakers for the event include Capt. Robert E. Palisin II, USN, Deputy Head of Sea Warfare and Weapons Dept., ONR; Don McCormack, Executive Director (ED) for Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) and Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) and Rear Admiral Thomas W. Marotta, Deputy Commander, Navy Recruiting Command.

 

SeaPerch is a curriculum-based program which introduces middle and high school students to STEM subjects through underwater robotics. The program has grown exponentially, reaching more than 230,000 students and 16,000 teachers/mentors since 2007.

 

Designated as the Navy’s signature K-12 outreach program, ONR is the program’s primary sponsor, with the Naval Engineering Education Center (NEEC) the major sponsor of the National Challenge.

 

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Foundation manages the SeaPerch program.