Why SeaPerch?
The U.S. Needs Trained Engineers
The world is changing. Innovations transform our nation, creating whole new industries and occupations. Every job of the future will require a basic understanding of math and science. Science and technology careers exist in a culture of inspiration, discovery, and innovation. Advances in technology will have a meaningful impact on the lives of every American.
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% of science degrees are awarded in engineering, as compared with 50% in China. It is estimated that 400,000 engineers will be needed by 2014. If it is not addressed, the expected shortage of skilled workers could decrease the nation's global competitiveness and result in a lack of expertise in mission-critical areas.
STEM and the Future of the U.S. Navy
Inspiration, discovery, and innovation are the hallmarks of the Navy's Research Enterprise. Maintaining a technological edge requires a dynamic portfolio of scientific research and technology development, a culture of innovation, and the capacity to draw upon diverse ideas and approaches. Tomorrow's scientists and engineers will be at the heart of this innovation process. Without a steady stream of civilian and enlisted scientists and engineers, the Navy's ability to maintain its Science and Technology superiority will falter over time. Consequently, increasing the STEM pipeline has become a critical priority for the Navy so that we are capable of tackling the challenges of the future.
By offering a broad range of STEM education and outreach programs, the Navy seeks to address the national crisis of decreasing college enrollments and careers in science and engineering. Through programs like SeaPerch and the STEM2Stern Program, the goal is to engage and inspire young people by exposing them to exciting, hands-on, and mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, while at the same time fostering self-confidence and life skills.
The Story of SeaPerch
SeaPerch began as one project in a book entitled "How to Build an Underwater Robot," by Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen. There were many projects in the book, and SeaPerch captured just two pages, with a parts list and instructions on how to assemble. Years later, Professor Thomas Consi at MIT developed a curriculum around the SeaPerch as a way to grow the Ocean Engineering Program at MIT. Realizing it was an interesting and compelling vehicle, MIT, Dr. Chryss Chrystostomedes, and the Sea Grant office developed a teacher training program around the SeaPerch curriculum they had developed based on Bohn's and Jensen's book, and they began introducing it to teachers both in the New England area and beyond. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) provided some financial support to MIT to develop the teacher training program, through the NNRNE program (National Naval Responsibility for Naval Engineering).
Several years later, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) had the vision to utilize their resources to manage the program and partner with ONR to take the SeaPerch Program from what was essentially a teacher training program and develop it into a true national program. ONR agreed to provide grant funding to develop an actual program, kit, and supporting materials, and to allow for the expansion of the program once developed. SNAME's efforts began to take root, and ONR expanded the grant to allow for the rapid growth of the program.
As of the fall of 2011, the SeaPerch Program is now managed by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Foundation (AUVSIF), and continues to expand nationally. In the past five years since the national program was conceived, over 50,000 students have participated in the SeaPerch Program.
Read more here: www.seaperch.org
The U.S. Needs Trained Engineers
The world is changing. Innovations transform our nation, creating whole new industries and occupations. Every job of the future will require a basic understanding of math and science. Science and technology careers exist in a culture of inspiration, discovery, and innovation. Advances in technology will have a meaningful impact on the lives of every American.
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% of science degrees are awarded in engineering, as compared with 50% in China. It is estimated that 400,000 engineers will be needed by 2014. If it is not addressed, the expected shortage of skilled workers could decrease the nation's global competitiveness and result in a lack of expertise in mission-critical areas.
STEM and the Future of the U.S. Navy
Inspiration, discovery, and innovation are the hallmarks of the Navy's Research Enterprise. Maintaining a technological edge requires a dynamic portfolio of scientific research and technology development, a culture of innovation, and the capacity to draw upon diverse ideas and approaches. Tomorrow's scientists and engineers will be at the heart of this innovation process. Without a steady stream of civilian and enlisted scientists and engineers, the Navy's ability to maintain its Science and Technology superiority will falter over time. Consequently, increasing the STEM pipeline has become a critical priority for the Navy so that we are capable of tackling the challenges of the future.
By offering a broad range of STEM education and outreach programs, the Navy seeks to address the national crisis of decreasing college enrollments and careers in science and engineering. Through programs like SeaPerch and the STEM2Stern Program, the goal is to engage and inspire young people by exposing them to exciting, hands-on, and mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, while at the same time fostering self-confidence and life skills.
The Story of SeaPerch
SeaPerch began as one project in a book entitled "How to Build an Underwater Robot," by Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen. There were many projects in the book, and SeaPerch captured just two pages, with a parts list and instructions on how to assemble. Years later, Professor Thomas Consi at MIT developed a curriculum around the SeaPerch as a way to grow the Ocean Engineering Program at MIT. Realizing it was an interesting and compelling vehicle, MIT, Dr. Chryss Chrystostomedes, and the Sea Grant office developed a teacher training program around the SeaPerch curriculum they had developed based on Bohn's and Jensen's book, and they began introducing it to teachers both in the New England area and beyond. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) provided some financial support to MIT to develop the teacher training program, through the NNRNE program (National Naval Responsibility for Naval Engineering).
Several years later, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) had the vision to utilize their resources to manage the program and partner with ONR to take the SeaPerch Program from what was essentially a teacher training program and develop it into a true national program. ONR agreed to provide grant funding to develop an actual program, kit, and supporting materials, and to allow for the expansion of the program once developed. SNAME's efforts began to take root, and ONR expanded the grant to allow for the rapid growth of the program.
As of the fall of 2011, the SeaPerch Program is now managed by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Foundation (AUVSIF), and continues to expand nationally. In the past five years since the national program was conceived, over 50,000 students have participated in the SeaPerch Program.
Read more here: www.seaperch.org