Southwest Indiana STEM hosts fifth annual SeaPerch competition

The Southwest Indiana STEM (SwISTEM) Resource Center at the University of Southern Indiana will host its fifth annual underwater robotics competition. Teams of third- through 12th-graders will participate in the USI Regional SeaPerch Challenge from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Mount Vernon Junior High School Natatorium.

SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that trains educators to teach their students how to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in an in-school or out-of-school setting. Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. Some of the concepts incorporated in the curriculum are propulsion, ergonomics and buoyancy/displacement.

Building a SeaPerch ROV teaches students basic skills in ship and submarine design and encourages them to explore naval architecture and marine and ocean engineering concepts. Students learn engineering and design skills and are exposed to exciting careers in naval architecture and naval, ocean and marine engineering. The program is designed to take students out of the traditional classroom environment and give them an opportunity to learn about science and engineering in a way that is fun and exciting. 

Teams from area schools will compete in either the stock or open division to maneuver their ROVs through several competitive drills. Stock division teams are allowed to use only the contents of their kits. Open division teams are allowed to modify their ROVs within a set of guidelines established by the national SeaPerch program.

An awards ceremony will follow at 1 p.m. in the Natatorium.  Mount Vernon Junior High School is located at 701 Tile Factory Rd., Mount Vernon, Indiana.

For more information about the USI Regional SeaPerch Challenge, visit www.usi.edu/SeaPerch.