Page 18: of Marine Technology Magazine (April 2016)

The Next Generation

LSU Site of Sixth National SeaPerch Challenge – Underwater Robotic Championships

SEAPERCH 2016 marks the sixth year of the National SeaPerch Challenge, an underwater robotics competition. n Saturday, May 21, the Sixth National SeaPerch Hosted by LSU’s College of Human Sciences & Education,

Challenge will be held on the campus of Louisi- registered participants and spectators will be treated to the ana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge. More “college experience,” enjoying the entire weekend’s activities,

Othan 200 teams of middle and high school students including the Friday Night Social, Saturday’s in-pool compe- from across the country, an impressive increase of almost 50 tition events and the new electronic poster competition. The percent over last year, will have earned the right to compete Awards Ceremony, along with residence hall accommodations against their peers on the national stage by winning at the re- and meals through Sunday morning, will be featured for all gional level. Compare this phenomenal growth with the ? rst participants on the university’s picturesque campus.

National Seaperch Challenge, held six years ago in Philadel- phia, where just 187 students in 38 teams participated.

What is SeaPerch?

Next month more than 1,500 students, teachers, coaches/ SeaPerch is the innovative K-12 underwater robotics pro- chaperones, family, friends, volunteers, judges, invited guests, gram, sponsored by the Of? ce of Naval Research (ONR) speakers, and committee members will gather for a weekend and managed by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Sys- of learning, sharing and competition. On the line will be the tems International Foundation (AUVSIF). It offers teachers title of National SeaPerch Champion, additional trophies for and group leaders the opportunity to inspire their students to all three competition events and an expanded number of spe- build their own Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) follow- cial awards. ing an academic curriculum consistent with national learning

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