News & Activities

2008 Poster Contest Winners!

2008-12-04T15:59:00Z

We are extremely happy to announce the winners in this year's Engineers Make a Difference Poster Contest! The entries were outstanding so selecting winners was very difficult.

The purpose of the contest is to allow students to visually communicate their ideas about an engineering theme. Graphics are a form of communication often overlooked. Communication, especially in engineering, can mean the difference between getting the job or not. This contest is effective because each student must research about engineering opportunities, and understand the contest theme in order to design a winning poster.

Past contests with themes such as "Engineers Can Do Anything", "Engineers Color our World", "Women in Engineering" and "Engineering Technology" have prompted poster submissions from hundreds of students all over the country.
This year, we had 201 entries. The competition was fierce and for the first time, over half of the contestants were high school students (usually, the bulk of entries are from community colleges). Take a look at the posters

Juneau, Alaska Teacher Training

2008-12-04T13:40:00Z

“Training the Trainers” - SeaPerch Workshop - February 5-7, 2009

Thursday, February 5 8:00am-3:00pm

8:00 Registration and breakfast

8:20 Welcome and training overview

Overview of the workshop

8:45 Orientation to tools and work station set up

Overview of SeaPerch Manual
Parts list and vendor information
Safety overview
Review of kit parts and tools used

9:00 Unit 1: Building the Frame

Introduce buoyancy

11:00 Unit 2: Motors

Discuss propulsion and soldering

12:00     Lunch provided

12:30     Complete Motors

1:30        Unit 3: Control Box

Discuss control, switched, circuits, etc.

3:00      Adjourn for the day

February 6   3:00pm-8:00pm

3:00    Review and questions

3:15    Finish and final touches to SeaPerch

5:00    Monitoring the environment with the SeaPerch: Sensors, cameras, plankton nets, hydrophone, etc.

5:30    Test SeaPerch in classroom

6:00   Working Dinner

Using SeaPerch in the Classroom
Brainstorm integration
Chemistry, biology, ecology, humanities, etc.
Website

February 7th    8:30am – 12:00pm – Meet @ Extended Stay Deluxe (Contact: Ashi – 790-6435)

8:30    Review and Questions

9:00   Test SeaPerch in pool (@ Extended Stay Deluxe)

11:00    Open discussion/evaluation/questions

The EESC Fall 2008 Poster Contest is Underway!

2008-10-09T17:15:00Z

"Engineers Make a Difference" is the theme for the Engineering Education Service Center's Fall 2008 Poster Contest. This year's winning entry can be found in a display of inspiration, excitement, wonder and curiosity. Posters should be fun, motivational and inspire students to pursue a degree in engineering, technology and/or science.

Engineering is humanitarian, caring and possibly the most effective, hands-on approach to make the world a better place. The engineering field can be very exciting. If you would like a career that allows you to help others on a grand scale or if you ever wanted to make the world a better place, then engineering has something for you!

Engineers strive to make our lives better, easier, cheaper, more efficient and more fun by solving problems in everyday life. Engineers are practical inventors. It is through the work of engineers that we are able to prevent devastation from hurricanes, explore other galaxies, and prevent illness from the worst diseases. The work of engineers also includes camera phones, wireless computers, satellite TV, airplanes, hydrogen powered cars, digital music, underwater robots, air conditioning, indoor plumbing, cosmetics, titanium knee and hip replacements, and the list goes on and on. Almost everything you touch has been influenced or designed by an engineer directly or indirectly. It is impossible to think of a major technical development that hasn't included the work of engineers.
Cash Prizes

Contest deadline: 11:59pm November 12, 2008

For more information or to download a flyer....

7th Annual MATE ROV Competition

2008-06-16T19:37:00Z

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 7^th 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

You're Invited: Seaperch Challenge

2008-04-09T20:05:00Z

You are cordially invited to the first Underwater Robotics competition in Northern Virginia. Brought to you by Prince William County Schools, and Robotics Team 1885.

Please feel free to further distribute this invitation.

SEE ATTACHMENT

How to Build Your Own Underwater Robot and Other Wet Projects

2008-04-07T20:11:00Z

How to Build Your Own Underwater Robot and Other Wet Projects by Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen

This book introduces you to the excitement and technology of underwater exploration and shows you how to use some of that amazing technology to construct simple, inexpensive underwater projects. These projects are not just toy models - they are actual working shallow water vehicles.

The book is a source of inspiration to kindle the imagination of the next generation of underwater explorers.

For price/ordering information, contact: Westcoast Words

3036 Waterloo Street
Vancouver, BC CANADA V6R 3J6
Phone/Fax: (604) 731-5565
E-mail: vdjensen@hotmail.com
www.westcoastwords.com

Through competition, Robocats turn into engineers

2008-03-27T21:32:00Z

Use the link below to read the article.

http://www.gainesville-times.com/news/2008/mar/26/through-competition-robocats-turn-engineers/

(PhysicsToday.org) Sea Perch is a fun, hands-on approach to teaching science

2008-03-12T15:59:00Z

Click link below to read article:

http://scitation.aip.org/journals/doc/PHTOAD-ft/vol_61/iss_3/22_1.shtml

Ninth Graders Design Robots for New Depths

2008-03-12T15:56:00Z

Click link below to read article:

http://www.pwcs.edu/absolutenewsmanager/templates/?a=981&z=16

Dr. Leigh McCue receives a National Science Foundation (CAREER) award

2008-03-12T15:47:00Z

Click the link below to read the article.

http://www.aoe.vt.edu/news/news.php#95

Call for student posters ASNE L/R Symposium

2008-03-10T17:37:00Z

Please urge your students to submit abstracts for the poster session at the upcoming 2008 Launch and Recovery of Manned and Unmanned Vehicles from Surface Platforms. There will be cash prizes for the best entries in K-12, Undergraduate, and Graduate categories!

The call for posters is attached with an abstract deadline of this Friday. I would appreciate if you could circulate this amongst your student ASNE/SNAME sections and encourage participation in this event.

Battlefield Robotics wins Engineering Inspiration

2008-03-10T17:36:00Z

The Battlefield High School Robotics team, Team 1885, took home the Engineering Inspiration Award yesterday at the Virginia Regional Competition. Teams from several states competed for this award. This is the second highest award given, and it is generally considered to be the runner up to the Chairman's award (the top award), which is usually given to teams who have been around for many years. This is awarded to "celebrate outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers within a team's school and community,".

This award is one of three awards that earns a slot at the World Championship Competition.

Robotics Contest Entices Va. Teens (Washington Post)

2008-03-03T19:39:00Z

Click below to read article...

Seaperch Washinton Post Article

A conversation with Susan Hockfield, President MIT

2008-02-25T18:56:00Z

Prince William Special Event Announcing Sea Perch

2008-02-11T12:00:00Z

Where:
Forest Park High School
15721 Forest Park Dr.
Woodbridge, VA 22193

When:
February 28, 2008 9:30am