Discovering the Mysteries of Mid-Ocean Ridges
The
Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center, the National
Science Foundation, and the Marine Technology Society’s (MTS) ROV
Committee invite you to our 7th Annual International Student ROV Competition.
Nearly 60 teams representing middle schools, high schools, home
schools, after-school groups, community colleges, and universities from
the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Scotland, Iran, and Russia are scheduled
to compete in this year’s event, which is being held June 26 – 28, 2008 at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
In partnership with the RIDGE 2000 Program at SIO,
the 2008 competition highlights hydrothermal vents found at mid-ocean
ridges and the technologies used to study these deep-sea environments.
Over
the last seven months, the student teams have worked to develop ROVs
for underwater mission tasks that involve both the use of sensors to
measure environmental parameters, such as the temperature of “black
smokers,” and the collection of vent organisms and geologic features.
This unique deep-sea environment will be replicated within UCSD’s
Canyonview Pool.
A
panel of judges--professionals representing industry, science,
government, education, and exploration--will evaluate the teams on
their ability to effectively communicate an understanding of their
vehicles’ design and construction via technical reports, poster
displays, and engineering evaluation interviews.
The competition will also feature the Ocean Career Expo,
organized by the MATE Center and our partners in the Centers for Ocean
Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE). A kick-off reception at the
Birch Aquarium at SIO will set the stage for an exciting weekend. At
the awards banquet, MTS ROV Committee Chairman Drew Michel will present
an overview of the ocean workforce that will enlighten students on the
exciting careers awaiting them in the field of marine technology.
We
encourage you to join us as the students expand their understanding of
mid-ocean ridges and the biology, chemistry, and geology of deep-sea
hydrothermal vent environments. Visit the MATE competition web site at www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/ where LIVE updates – including scores, photos, and video clips – will be posted during the event.
Jill Zande MATE Center Associate Director & ROV Competition Coordinator
(831) 646-3082 (work)
jzande@marinetech.org