Manchester Team Wins Spot In International Underwater Robotics Contest

MANCHESTER, NJ — The Manchester Township Middle School Engineering Team for placing first and second in the 2024 NY/NJ Regional Seaperch underwater robotic competition, earning a spot in the international competition at the end of May.

The regional competition was held at the Neptune Aquatic Center April 13-14.

The students had to create an underwater robot to simulate real-life water sampling and retrieve rock samples from the waters around the Galapagos Island hydrothermal vents, as well as complete a timed obstacle course.

SeaPerch is an integrated STEM education program that guides students and teachers through a real-world engineering and design project centered around building an underwater remote-operated vehicle. The program uses hands-on methods to equip students and teachers with the resources needed to learn basic science and engineering concepts like tool safety, technical applications, problem-solving, and teamworking skills.

The goal of SeaPerch is to help teach technical skills while encouraging students' curiosity, creativity, and desire to understand the world.

"When this learning is tangible and connected to the real world, the impacts can be profound," the SeaPerch website says.

Manchester Middle School's teams, coached by Maura Simister, placed first and second overall. They were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the preparation.

The first-place team will move on to compete at the 2024 International SeaPerch Challenge, set for May 31 and June 1 at the University of Maryland.

The annual International SeaPerch Challenge is an invitation-only event that tests the skills learned in the SeaPerch program with a series of obstacles and real-world inspired tasks.