Seventeen teams comprised of middle school students competed in the second annual Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport SeaPerch Derby held on December 6 at New Bedford High School in Massachusetts.Using
Seventeen teams comprised of middle school students competed in the second annual Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport SeaPerch Derby held on December 6 at New Bedford High School in Massachusetts.
Using a remote-controlled underwater vehicle known as a SeaPerch, which was constructed by the students, participating teams hailed from five middle schools—Normandin, Keith and Roosevelt in New Bedford; Kickemuit in Warren, Rhode Island; and Pennfield in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
With assistance from Division Newport scientists and engineers, the SeaPerch Derby regional competition is designed to promote excellence and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. It gives the students basic skills in ship and submarine design and encourages them to explore naval architecture and marine and ocean engineering concepts.
"The SeaPerch curriculum teaches students how to read a technical manual and follow the instructions to create a useful product from raw material," said Mike DeSousa, Division Newport's program manager of K-12 STEM Educational Outreach. "It also teaches students how to properly use tools like power drills and soldering irons and gives students the confidence to purse difficult challenges that might appear daunting at first."
Students competing in the annual SeaPerch Derby. © NUWC
The students competed in
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