At University of California San Diego’s (UCSD) Canyonview Aquatic Center, teams of students gathered for this year’s Marine Advanced Technology Education Center’s International Student ROV (remotely-operated vehicle) Competition. 650 Students from five different countries came together- including the U.S., Canada, China (Hong Kong), Scotland and Russia to compete. For the competition the students were require to design and build robots that would measure the temperature of an underwater vent (made out of PVC pipe) as well as capture “crabs” and collect “lava samples.” Students also presented posters and reports they had made to volunteer judges, who were made up of professional technologists and engineers in marine-related industries. Students compete in two classes, Explorer and Ranger (Explorer class ROVs operate at higher power levels).

The Competition is designed to present students with the types of challenges faced by scientists and engineers working in extreme ocean environments. The tasks students were asked to complete are designed to be similar to tasks scientists and engineers complete when exploring hydrothermal vents. The hydrothermal vents are hot springs located deep on the seafloor near mid-ocean ridges, where the earth’s tectonic plates slowly spread apart to create new seafloor crust. Vents emit continuous streams of super-heated, mineral-rich water through cracks in the earth’s crust, creating an ecosystem that supports unique communities.

The MATE ROV competition teaches students about science, technology, engineering, math, and critical thinking skills. They also help students become aware of technical careers in which they can apply these skills. It is a critical step in addressing the shortage of qualified engineers and technical professionals.

For the complete list of ROV competition winners and award prizes, please visit: http://www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/2008/final_standings.php.