• Monterey Peninsula College

Monterey, CA

• Develops and disseminates marine occupational guidelines and researches ocean workforce trends.
• Organizes 1 international and 20 regional underwater robotics competitions each year.
• Offers interdisciplinary, technology-rich professional development for faculty.
• Coordinates at-sea technical internships.
• Maintains www.OceanCareers.com, a one-stop shop for ocean career information.
• Published Underwater Robotics: Design, Science & Fabrication, a 780-page textbook.

Students Apply Classroom Learning To Solve Ocean Workplace Problems

MATE’s competitions, which require students to design, build, and operate underwater robots known as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), simultaneously challenge and motivate students. During the ROV competitions, students apply the physics, math, electronics, and engineering skills they are learning in the classroom to solve practical problems from the ocean workplace.

In addition to technical skills, students develop project management, technical writing, communication, and teamwork skills as they prepare technical reports, posters, and engineering presentations. The experience of delivering these presentations to working professionals exposes students to career opportunities and solidifies their connection to real-world industry practices.

The competition is now expanding into middle schools. Ninety-five percent of the 98 middle school students surveyed indicated that they are more excited about taking courses in math, science, computer science, engineering, and other hands-on classes as a result of their ROV projects.

MATE Leads Development of Ocean Workforce

MATE’s programs and activities represent unique approaches to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning experiences that encourage interest in ocean-related fields.

The center leads marine technical education efforts by defining the current and future ocean workforce; identifying the knowledge and skills this workforce needs; placing this information in the hands of educational institutions at all levels; working to ensure that curricula and programs at colleges across the country reflect current workforce needs; coordinating at-sea internships to provide real-world experiences; creating a set of distinctive approaches to engage educational and industry organizations in collaborative activities; and developing tools to help students learn about and explore career opportunities.

MATE actively collaborates with more than 500 educational institutions and 200 companies and agencies across the country. Over the past 10 years approximately 6,000 students have enrolled in marine technology-related programs at MATE Center partner colleges. MATE Center’s industry partners provide employment opportunities for these students in positions that support offshore oil and gas industries; seafloor surveying for telecommunications and safe navigation; environmental assessment and monitoring; marine fisheries and mariculture; recreation and tourism; and basic and applied research among other ocean-related fields.