MATE ROV Competitions: Providing Pathways to the Ocean STEM Workforce

Jill M. Zande

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Special Session Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the MATE International ROV Competition
Tagged Division: Ocean and Marine
Page Count: 9
Page Numbers: 22.1043.1 - 22.1043.9
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--18324
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/18324
Download Count: 509

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Jill M. Zande Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center

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Jill Zande
Associate Director & ROV Competition Coordinator
Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center

VP Education and Research
Marine Technology Society (MTS)

Biography
Jill Zande is the Associate Director and ROV Competition Coordinator for the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center and the current VP of Education and Research for MTS. At the MATE Center, Jill’s role is to work closely with industry to ensure that educational programs are aligned with workforce needs and to facilitate partnerships among educators, students, employers, and working professionals. Jill maintains relationships with well over 100 businesses, research institutions, government agencies, and professional societies and with the 400+ middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities that participate in MATE ROV competitions each year.

Jill received her undergraduate degree in biology/minor in marine science from Penn State University and her Master’s degree in Oceanography and Coastal Sciences from Louisiana State University. Jill has been with MATE since 1998 and through her position has actively promoted the inclusion of ocean science and technology in formal and informal educational arenas.

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Abstract

MATE ROV Competitions: Providing Pathways to the Ocean STEM Workforce The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center organizes internationaland regional underwater robotics competitions for students in grades 5-16. These competitionsnot only engage students in hands-on learning experiences, they also increase students’awareness of ocean careers and connect them with professional engineers, scientists, andtechnicians. MATE’s competitions use underwater robotics, specifically remotely operated vehicles orROVs, as a platform to instruct students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)and demonstrate how these subjects are applied in the real world. The competitions consist ofunderwater mission tasks as well as an engineering and communication component that includestechnical reports, poster displays, and presentations. The competition missions are designed to challenge students to use their physics, math,electronics, computing, and engineering knowledge and skills to solve practical problems fromthe ocean workplace. In addition to technical skills, students develop project management,technical writing, communication, and teamwork skills as they prepare their reports, posters, andengineering presentations. These reports, displays, and presentations are delivered to workingprofessionals, which provides exposure to career opportunities and solidifies the connection toreal-world industry practices. Created in partnership with the Marine Technology Society’s (MTS) ROV Committee,the program currently consists of one international and a network of 20 regional competitionsthat are held annually. Since the first pilot regional event in 2001, the MATE Center and itsregional partners have carried out nine international and 98 regional events. To date, thecompetitions have impacted more than 9,000 students and more than 1,200 educators at formaland informal educational institutions (middle schools, high schools, home schools, communitycolleges, universities, 4-H clubs, and public aquaria, among others). Well over 100 companiesand organizations donate funds, facilities, equipment, and building materials; more than 1,000working professionals donate their time and technical expertise in support of the student teams. The 2010-2011 competition season marks the 10th anniversary of the international eventas well as the release of Introduction to Underwater Robotics: Science, Design & Fabrication, a780+ page comprehensive textbook and guide to designing and building underwater vehicles.This textbook is written for advanced high school and college and university entry-level courses.It, combined with MATE’s week-long professional development institutes, provides educatorswith the tools and training they need to implement ocean engineering projects in the classroom. This presentation focuses on the history and evolution of the ROV competitions, detailsthe competition structure, and showcases the programs that support student and educatorparticipation.

Citation
Format

Zande, J. M. (2011, June), MATE ROV Competitions: Providing Pathways to the Ocean STEM Workforce Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--18324

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -                                MATE ROV Competitions:                    Providing Pathways to the Ocean STEM Workforce       The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center organizes internationaland regional underwater robotics competitions for students in grades 5-16. These competitionsnot only engage students in hands-on learning experiences, they also increase students’awareness of ocean careers and connect them with professional engineers, scientists, andtechnicians.       MATE’s competitions use underwater robotics, specifically remotely operated vehicles orROVs, as a platform to instruct students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)and demonstrate how these subjects are applied in the real world. The competitions consist ofunderwater mission tasks as well as an engineering and communication component that includestechnical reports, poster displays, and presentations.        The competition missions are designed to challenge students to use their physics, math,electronics, computing, and engineering knowledge and skills to solve practical problems fromthe ocean workplace. In addition to technical skills, students develop project management,technical writing, communication, and teamwork skills as they prepare their reports, posters, andengineering presentations. These reports, displays, and presentations are delivered to workingprofessionals, which provides exposure to career opportunities and solidifies the connection toreal-world industry practices.        Created in partnership with the Marine Technology Society’s (MTS) ROV Committee,the program currently consists of one international and a network of 20 regional competitionsthat are held annually. Since the first pilot regional event in 2001, the MATE Center and itsregional partners have carried out nine international and 98 regional events. To date, thecompetitions have impacted more than 9,000 students and more than 1,200 educators at formaland informal educational institutions (middle schools, high schools, home schools, communitycolleges, universities, 4-H clubs, and public aquaria, among others). Well over 100 companiesand organizations donate funds, facilities, equipment, and building materials; more than 1,000working professionals donate their time and technical expertise in support of the student teams.        The 2010-2011 competition season marks the 10th anniversary of the international eventas well as the release of Introduction to Underwater Robotics: Science, Design &amp; Fabrication, a780+ page comprehensive textbook and guide to designing and building underwater vehicles.This textbook is written for advanced high school and college and university entry-level courses.It, combined with MATE’s week-long professional development institutes, provides educatorswith the tools and training they need to implement ocean engineering projects in the classroom.        This presentation focuses on the history and evolution of the ROV competitions, detailsthe competition structure, and showcases the programs that support student and educatorparticipation.
AU  - Jill M. Zande
CY  - Vancouver, BC
DA  - 2011/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - MATE ROV Competitions: Providing Pathways to the Ocean STEM Workforce 
UR  - https://strategy.asee.org/18324
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--18324
ER  -