At University of California San Diego’s (UCSD) Canyonview Aquatic Center, more than 50 student teams (over 650 persons) gathered around poolside workstations. Some intently studied images on computer monitors; others carefully fed a tether cable into the pool. The students measured water temperatures in hydrothermal vents, collected lava samples, and captured crabs—all simulated by elaborate props—with underwater robots that they designed and built. Known as ROVs or remotely-operated vehicles, underwater robots are used in scientific research, ocean exploration and observation and by the marine industry.
The teams origin from five countries, including the U.S., Canada, China (Hong Kong), Scotland and Russia, participating in the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center’s International Student ROV Competition, held 26-28 June 2008 at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) at University of California San Diego (UCSD).
Explorer Class Winners
Eastern Edge Robotics, of the Marine Institute and Faculty of Memorial University, won overall first place in the Explorer class, and also captured the top awards for technical report and engineering evaluation. Based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, the team previously won the Explorer class competition in 2005 and 2006.
Second place went to Long Beach City College of Long Beach, Calif., with third place going to California Academy of Math and Science in Carson. The two California teams also tied for best poster presentation.
Ranger Class Winners
In the Ranger class, New York City Home Educators Alliance took overall first place, along with best technical report and best team spirit award. They tied for top poster presentation.
Edgewater High School of Orlando (FL, USA) won second place honors, and Dalbrae Academy High School of Mabou, Nova Scotia, Canada earned third place. The Canadian team also won an award for exceptional safety practices, and member Milton Longwood received one of three Ranger class engineering MVP awards.
Hydrothermal Vents
This year’s competition was designed to present students with the types of challenges faced by scientists and engineers working in extreme ocean environments. Hydrothermal vents are hot springs located deep on the seafloor near mid-ocean ridges, where the earth’s tectonic plates slowly spread apart to create new seafloor crust. Vents emit continuous streams of super-heated, mineral-rich water through cracks in the earth’s crust, creating an ecosystem that supports unique communities.
Complete list of ROV competition winners and award prizes
Hydrology Application Specialists, Nick Martin and Lee Pimble, use the SonTek RiverSurveyor to make discharge measurements with the help of a kayak on the Rivern Severn at the Ironbridge in the Ironbridge Gorge (Shropshire, UK).
The teams origin from five countries, including the U.S., Canada, China (Hong Kong), Scotland and Russia, participating in the Marine Advanced Technology 
