NOMS Robot Teams Need Funds

Students at Nicholas Orem Middle School are racing against the clock to build underwater robots for a country-wide science and engineering contest. But as they construct their underwater robots, school administrators say they need to raise hundreds of dollars to afford transportation to and from the April competition in Virginia. 

According to Assistant Principal Andrea McCall, the school needs to raise roughly $600 to pay for expenses to bring the kids to the . 

"We don't know if we'll be able to go," said McCall. "But the kids are so deserving that we want to make sure that the trip isn't cancelled because of funding."

The club is an outgrowth of the schools GIMS and BIMS programs, short for, respectively, girls and boys in math and science. It is the first year that Nicholas Orem Middle School has participated in the program. So far this year, it has given 16 students the opportunity to get hands on experience working with the concepts learned in their science classes. It also helps them develop planning and problem solving skills. 

The robot kits and instructions were compiled and distributed by students at the United States Naval Academy. 

For at least one student, it is a fun opportunity to apply her education. 

"There's always an excitement with science, both natural and mechanical," said eighth grader Melissa Toledo as she discussed construction directions with her team. 

Toledo said that she might like to pursue a career in chemistry. 

"I really have a huge curiosity about it," said Toledo.

The bots, equipped with motorized thrusters, must be able to travel eight feet and maneuver through a slalom course of hoops. 

If they pass basic maneuverability tests, the bots will try to salvage items from the bottom of a pool using lift bags.

The SeaPerch teams at the schools are also guided by volunteer students from the University of Maryland.

"I've loved engineering ever since I was a kid," said University of Maryland sophomore mechanical engineering major Giacomo Fornasini as he helped the middle schoolers with the submersible. "Seeing these kids have that same curiosity is something that I wanted to be a part of."

For eighth grade science teacher Charlotte Rajasingh, the competition provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the challenges faced by professional engineers and scientists. 

"As much as we talk about STEM, it's still hard for them to imagine a science career," said Rajasingh. "What I love about this project is that it exposes kids to things that scientists actually do."