USM Marine Education Center to Host Regional SeaPerch Challenge

Fri, 03/06/2020 - 02:23pm | By: Van Arnold

Middle and high school students from across the Gulf South will put their STEM skills to the test as they compete in the regional SeaPerch Challenge set for March 14 at the Biloxi Natatorium. The University of Southern Mississippi’s Marine Education Center serves as the event host.

This innovative underwater robotics program supports teachers and provides curriculum enhancement in compliance with national standards to assist students in constructing an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

“The SeaPerch Competition incorporates robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics in a highly competitive underwater ROV competition,” said Dr. Chris Snyder, Director of the Marine Education Center. “It challenges students to work across STEM disciplines, and then apply their skills in a team-based competition.SeaPerch exposes them to all the exciting career possibilities in ocean and marine engineering and exploration.”

In school, after school or in an out-of-school setting, students prepare for the competition by building their own SeaPerch ROV following a curriculum that teaches science and engineering nomenclature, terminology and basic principles with an ocean and marine engineering theme.

The SeaPerch Program provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics while building an underwater ROV as part of a science and engineering technology curriculum. Throughout the project, students learn engineering concepts, problem solving, teamwork, and technical applications.

For more information about the SeaPerch Challenge, visit: https://www.usm.edu/marine-education-center/seaperch-challenge.php