Do you know how to build a robot? Can you build one that collects tennis/ping pong/golf balls? How about one that floats, and one that skims the bottom of a pool? The participants of the SeaPerch program organized by Harmony Public Schools, The US Navy, and the Rice University School Mathematics Project, know how to do all of the above. SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in an in-school or out-of-school setting.

Striving for more Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses, numerous schools around the U.S. are adding SeaPerch to their curriculum and Harmony Public Schools is no exception. SeaPerch is an engaging underwater robotics program supported by the United States Navy and the Association of Unmanned Vehicle International Foundation. This activity allows Harmony students the opportunity to build ROVs and compete in underwater challenges designed to simulate real-world scenarios while incorporating STEM concepts. As Harmony enters its second year in the SeaPerch Program, 25 of schools and close to a hundred students participated in the local event under the capable guidance and coordination of Mr. Suleyman Gecmenler, the Harmony Southwest District STEM Coordinator.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant (MITSG) College Program created the SeaPerch initiative in 2003. Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, as part of the National Naval Responsibility for Naval Engineering (NNRNE), SeaPerch’s aim is to find the next generation of Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, Naval Engineers, and Ocean Engineers.

In an interview with Mr. Gecmenler, he stated that when they found out about the SeaPerch Program, they realized that it aligned perfectly with Harmony Public School’s project Based Learning (PBL) philosophy. According to Mr. Gecmenler, this is the second year that Harmony has pursued the SeaPerch program, and in his opinion the program’s success lies in the dedication of the Harmony students and sponsors, as well as, the parents who dedicate time, wisdom, and encouragement as coaches and volunteers to the local Harmony SeaPerch teams.

The SeaPerch Program is organized in collaboration with Harmony Public Schools, RUSMP, and the U.S Navy. RUSMP assists the SeaPerch Program by advertising the events, assisting in coordinating the meets, providing judges, and also facilitating awards and medals for the winning teams. Dr. Yetkin Yildirim, RUSMP’s Director of STEM Projects, has played an integral role in supporting SeaPerch’s initiative. Dr. Yildirim presented at SeaPerch’s keynote and explained the endless possibilities of what SeaPerch has to offer. When asked about his opinion on the far reaching benefits of exposing Harmony students to this opportunity early on, Dr. Yildirim stated that, “STEM is important because it pervades every part of our lives. STEM activities like SeaPerch provide hands-on and minds-on lessons for the student. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. By exposing students to STEM and giving them opportunities to explore STEM-related concepts such as SeaPerch, they develop a passion for it and the probability of them pursuing a job in a related STEM field increases.”

Mr. Gecmenler further added that their SeaPerch Program is indebted to Houston Baptist University (HBU) for allowing them the use of the HBU swimming pool for the SeaPerch events. Additionally, the SeaPerch kits and equipment needed for the program are provided by the United States Navy, as well as technical guidance as needed.

A video from one of the events is available at: https://www.facebook.com/157660207623018/posts/2190032427719109?sfns=mo







Article written by Ali Imran and Rehman Memon, Harmony Public Schools