NUWC Division Keyport and PSNS Grant for Advancing STEM Education through Robotics and ROVs

NUWC Division Keyport seeks proposals as provided under the authority set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection 2192(b) of U.S.C. Title 10 in support of education programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with a focus on Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV). The overall objective of this program is to foster education of future scientists and engineers in disciplines critical to the Department of Defense.

The intent of this announcement is that the program funded under this grant or cooperative agreement will be primarily executed for schools in Kitsap County, WA. Expansion to other counties may be considered to enable similar organizations to our own to be started to support local STEM application activities.

The recipient would coordinate efforts between the Navy, DoD, Contractor, and private citizens to accomplish the following Outreach goals:

• Increase STEM interest in schools;
• Provide training for Government employees who volunteer for the program;
• Create a larger technical pool from which to hire future scientists and engineers;
• What they must do:
o Manage material logistics and events
o Manage school district interfaces

The purpose of this announcement is to receive proposals in support of NUWC Division Keyport and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) outreach programs with a focus on Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) which include but are not limited to the following outreach projects:

High School ROV Challenges: A hands-on application for school curricula, which gets kids excited about science. Students design and build an underwater robot from low-cost, easily accessible parts. They design the ROV within design specification, manage their project to schedule, communicate with team members and technical support personnel and resolve technical issues, learn skills such as soldering, wiring, building structures, and do component and system testing, troubleshooting, and repair. After the ROV is complete, they have a “shake out” test in a pool to ensure the ROV works, then a real world challenge in the pool.

SeaPerch: A hands-on application for school curricula, which gets kids excited about science. Students learn basic skills to build an underwater robot from low-cost, easily accessible parts. They build it by following a booklet that teaches basic engineering and science concepts. They manage their project to schedule, communicate with team members and technical support personnel to learn skills such as soldering, wiring, and building structures. After the ROV is complete, they have a real world challenge in the pool.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles: Provides challenging STEM application simulating industry by working in “subcontractor teams”. The eventual goal is to field one or more teams to go to the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) competition.

Multiply Science Infusion Program: Increase STEM penetration at elementary and MS/JH by training high school students preferably from the ROV program to present STEM applications in the lower grades. High School students would aid Elementary/JH/MS teachers in presenting science applications.

Robotics: The mission of this program is to inspire students to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership. Includes For Inspiration Into Research, Science, and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Challenge, Lego League, and Microrobotics applications.

MathCounts: Keep students interested in Math through afterschool math clubs.

Summer Program: Work with Olympic College and other schools to implement science application programs in their schools in support of community efforts to increase STEM.

See full announcement for further detailed information.