Naval STEM News

Read the latest news stories about Naval STEM.
News From The Field

NMCSD’s VolunTEEN Summer Program Continues to Succeed
SAN DIEGO, Ca – Naval Medical Center San Diego’s 2024 VolunTEEN program concluded with two graduation ceremonies July 10-11 with much praise from both parents and participants.
“The VolunTEEN Summer Program brings teens ages 14-17 to the command, giving them the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities and learn about military medicine,” said Lt. Amanda Peeler, a Physical Therapist at NMCSD and Mission Viejo, Calif. native. “They participate in medical simulations in the Simulation Center, learn to make splints in the Orthopedics cast room, create a video in the production room, learn to suture, and many other activities that bring life to health care and science careers.”

CNAL RETURNS TO JROTC FLIGHT ACADEMY GRADUATION AT ECSU
ELIZABETH CITY, NC – Rear Adm. John Meier, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, returned for a second year to attend the graduation of 16 Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) high school students in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, July 31.
The 16 high school students spent most of the summer attending flight school to graduate from an eight-week Flight Academy offered at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). There are 24 universities that participate in the JROTC scholarship program that recognizes a unique collaboration with the Department of Navy and Air Force to help address the nation’s pilot shortage.

MCSC’S ROBOTICS-THEMED STEM CAMP ENGAGES AND INSPIRES LOCAL YOUT
MARINE CORPS BASE Quantico, Va – Last week, 46 local students gathered at Quantico Middle High School aboard MCB Quantico, Va., for the 14th edition of MCSC’s Summer Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—or STEM– Camp.
The weeklong camp, centered around the theme of robotics, provided students who are rising 6th-9th graders with a stimulating environment to explore this fascinating—and critical— field. Working closely with teachers and MCSC team members, participants engaged in constructing Lego robots with functional arms and navigated a series of challenges using block programming. This immersive experience not only enhanced their problem-solving skills and creativity but also provided a thorough introduction to robotics and programming—skills vital for equipping the Marine Corps with advanced technological capabilities.

Recognizing STEM Education Impact Since 2007: Cantu Named Honorary Seabee
“It was an incredible honor and a total surprise,” said Cantu. “I am so honored to be recognized for doing what I love. The rewards are always greater than the effort as I learn as much from the campers as they do. I’ve benefitted from an extraordinary high school chemistry teacher who pushed forward my career in engineering and in turn motivated me to drive inspiration to the next generation of engineers.”
Cantu was recognized for her selfless dedication leading the Navy’s Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Construction Camps for SAME since 2007.
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Cetacean Celebration: ONR Sponsors Family-Friendly Dolphin Workshops in South Carolina
WEST BETHESDA, Md – Thousands of wildlife lovers learned about the lives and health of dolphins during workshops sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) — in partnership with the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF).
The interactive events — titled “Dolphin Doctor: On the Front Lines of Marine Mammal Medicine” — occurred during the recent Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) in Charleston, South Carolina. ONR funded the workshops through the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) efforts of its Warfighter Performance Department. Approximately 3,400 people attended..

The U.S. Naval Academy’s STEM Center Travels to the West Coast to Deliver STEM Workshop
Forty-two DoD personnel from commands and affiliated organizations across the U.S. attended this two-day training in “Best Practices in DoD STEM Outreach”, held at NIWC Pacific in San Diego, CA. Module topics included Biofuels, Motors & Turbines, Sphero Robotics, Paper Speaker, Hydraulics, Machine Learning, and a Space/Flight/Electrochemistry Fair. Attendees presented their knowledge of the material to middle and high school students in the nearby area at Longfellow K-8 and Lincoln High School, providing hands-on experiences in both hydraulics and paper speaker.
Naval STEM News

‘Keep Asking Questions’: High School STEM Researchers Celebrated At NJSHS
Looking out at the audience of more than 200 high school students, Dr. Bindu Nair exhorted them to sustain their passion and curiosity for all things STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) — and to continue to ask questions, no matter how strange.

Prize-Winning Prose: Naval STEM Launches New Version of Naval Horizons Essay Contest
The Department of the Navy’s (DoN) Naval STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) program has gone live with the newest iteration of its Naval Horizons student essay contest for high school and college students.
Naval Horizons is a STEM educational video series from the DoN’s Naval STEM Coordination Office, located at the Office of Naval Research (ONR). It is a collection of more than 45 videos highlighting scientists and engineers, including active-duty military personnel, working within the DoN. It aims to broaden the awareness of real-world science and technology challenges facing the Navy and Marine Corps today and help illuminate the many pathways to STEM careers.

Diverse Perspectives: Naval STEM Touts Outreach Programs at DoD STEM Event
Looking back on his experiences in medical school, and while serving as a practicing specialist in orthopedic medicine, Lt. Cmdr. Marvin Dingle — an orthopedic surgeon at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland — recalled how he didn’t encounter many other African Americans in his field of study.

Onward, Upward: 2022 Naval Horizons Contest Boasts Greatest Number Of Winners Yet
ARLINGTON, Va.—The results are in for the recent Naval Horizons student essay contest. The contest organizer, the Department of the Navy’s (DoN) Naval STEM Coordination Office (NSCO), which is located at the Office of Naval Research, is excited about the growth of the contest since its premiere. In the 2022 contest, over 710 students were awarded a $200 cash prize.

Promoting Ph.D.S: Advancing National Defense, Doctoral Style
ARLINGTON, Va.— During the closing presentation of a week-long conference focused on America’s best and brightest Ph.D. students, whose research is focused on U.S. national security, Dr. Bindu Nair — director of Basic Research for the Office of the Secretary of Defense — stared at the crowd of hundreds of young people.

25th Annual RoboSub Competition Showcases an Autonomous Future
ARLINGTON, Va. — This past week, the 25th Annual RoboSub competition occurred at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. RoboSub is an international robotics competition where student teams design, build, test and operate their own robotic submarines — autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) — in challenging underwater environments.

Science Success Stories: Naval STEM Highlights Student Outreach Efforts In 2021
ARLINGTON, Va.—This year was busy as the Department of the Navy’s (DoN) Naval STEM Coordination Office, which is located at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), expanded its offerings for high school and college students.
These activities included a flight academy; a virtual question-and-answer event with astronauts working at the International Space Station; and an online essay contest aimed at introducing students to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) topics impacting the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.