GUH Organizes 8th STEM Challenge for UK Schools, Focusing on Marine Protection

A national, environmentally focused educational initiative organized by Global Underwater Hub gets underway again next month as it aims to inspire another group of school students about careers in underwater engineering.

Now in its eighth year, Global Underwater Hub’s annual STEM Challenge competition tests and develops the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills of pupils aged 13-14 years of age. The initiative offers pupils an opportunity to learn about the UK’s USD$12.59 billion (£9.4billion) underwater industry, which includes the offshore energy, marine science, maritime robotics, aquaculture and defense sectors.

Up to 60 schools are expected to participate in the environment themed STEM education program over the coming months. Ten schools will take part in each of the six regional heats, which are held in Bristol and Southampton in April, followed by Blyth, Manchester, Inverness and Glasgow in May. The winning school from each heat then has the chance to travel to Aberdeen to compete in the national final.

With an environmental message of marine stewardship and protecting the world’s oceans and seas from plastic pollution at its core, the technology project is built around the premise of creating a new ROV capable of navigating the marine ecosystem to retrieve plastics.