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Navy Scientists and Engineers Challenge Students
by Daniel Broadstreet, Naval Surface Warfare Center
June 10, 2019
Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD)
scientists and engineers partnered with academia on March 8, 2019
and challenged students to a regional SeaPerch competition at the
University of West Florida. Students at this year’s event prepared
their remotely operated vehicles (ROV) to compete by navigating
through an obstacle and a challenge course.
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March 8, 2019 - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Engineers Tien Le, Ludger Denis, Trent Fruhwirth, and Jessica Morgan keep time and score the SeaPerch teams. (U.S. Navy photo by Anthony Powers)
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Dan Flisek, NSWC PCD physicist and technical director for the
competition said SeaPerch challenges and regional competitions help
provide students with a hands-on approach while learning the STEM
disciplines.
“Kids learn better with a hands-on activity like
these competitions. SeaPerch is particularly applicable for
employees at NSWC PCD because many of the skills that students learn
while building the vehicles, are the same skills our scientists and
engineers use to build underwater vehicles. This program helps get
kids interested in robotics and engineering, which will hopefully
put them on the path to becoming future NSWC employees,” said Flisek.
“It's like long-range recruiting.”
The Office of Naval Research’s SeaPerch web site reports that
STEM programs such as SeaPerch are of national concern.
"The
U.S. has fallen from 3rd to 17th in the world in the number of
college graduates in engineering programs. In the U.S., only 5
percent of science degrees are awarded in engineering, as compared
with 50 percent in China. If not addressed, the expected shortage of
skilled workers could decrease the U.S.’s global competitiveness and
may result in a lack of expertise in mission-critical areas."
According to Halie Cameron, NSWC PCD mechanical engineer and
SeaPerch judge, Navy STEM career professionals are partnering with
local-area teachers to help mentor and pique students’ STEM-related
interests at almost every stage of their education.
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March 8, 2019 - Students had to complete a “finesse” challenge where the SeaPerch had to open a door, swim through a hoop, and pick up small targets before returning to the surface. (U.S. Navy photo by Anthony Powers)
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“We’re volunteering time after work at local-area schools to
support as many STEM-related clubs as possible, from elementary to
junior high to the high school level as well,” said Cameron.
NSWC PCD STEM Outreach Program Manager Paige George said
personally mentoring students was key to academic success.
“Providing students with face to face contact with Navy scientists
and engineers helps broaden their understanding of how diverse the
STEM disciplines are,” said George.
According to George, out
of the 76 teams competing, one high school team and one middle
school team continue on to the National Competition.
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