NCMS is promoting innovation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education to help ensure that our country has the manufacturing knowledge to compete globally. Earlier this year, NCMS held Michigan Robotics Day, during National Robotics Week, to help publicize the amazing the opportunities that robotics holds for students. In Washington state NCMS staff is taking their support of STEM to a higher level involvement.
Doyle Maleche, senior engineering program manager from our Bremerton, Washington office is working directly with high school students to share his extensive practical engineering experience to help them to successfully build and operate underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The chance to create something so challenging is very motivating and educational for the students, and they often come in early to school and stay late to work on their creations. Students not only learn technological skills but also collaborate in teams for practical problem-solving that they could not learn from a book. Often parents and others are drawn into the ROV challenge competitions and as part of the learning process.
Instructors include many current and former Navy personnel, plus employees from Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and others.
The Kitsap County (Washington State) program began in 2006 with a $24,000 grant awarded to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) at Keyport. In 2011, NUWC hired NCMS to implement the program. At the outset supplies were purchased to build ROVs for only two high schools – PVC pipe, washers, Radio Shack motors, toy propellers, 35mm film canisters, wires and tools. Despite the inexpensive materials, the project’s effect on motivating students was so successful that it spread to other middle and high schools in the district. The program has doubled in size every year and by 2012, it will be in 14 elementary, middle, and high schools in Kitsap and Jefferson counties, engaging over 2000 students. The program has sparked interest from the Boy Scouts of America and Navy Sea Cadets, and is expanding to reach students and educators in Alaska, Hawaii, and San Diego.
NCMS’ newest collaboration effort is partnering with Dr. Jodi Carson and Olympic College’s Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program which is also a nationally recognized academic enhancement program. MESA looks beyond traditional student populations to meet future and global workforce demands in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The group is actively seeking additional sponsorships and donors to allow continued growth of the program. Sponsors will be given recognition as well as knowing they are contributing to the development of skills that are critically needed for the United States to compete in the worlds industry and marketplace.
