Program Summary
The first offering of Discover Ocean Engineering was Sunday August 22, 1998 through Wednesday August 26, 1998. The MIT Department of Ocean Engineering hosted 30 new Freshmen. During this time, these students had the opportunity to tour labs, meet faculty, interact with upperclassmen, and see Boston. In addition, the focus of the program was the development of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). Working in pairs, the students built their own ROVs and gained valuable laboratory experience and personal confidence in their technical skills. During the final day of the program the students had the opportunity to operate their ROVs in pool tests and with underwater video cameras in Boston Harbor.
Highlights
ROV Construction: The hands on activity was carefully planned to ensure that the students could complete their ROVs in time to test them in Boston Harbor. Despite this careful planning the staff were still afraid that some students would not finish in time. Contrary to expectations all of the students completed their projects ahead of schedule.
ROV Pool Testing: The first time the students took their ROVs to the pool to test them was the most rewarding moment of the program for many of the students and the mentors. Within 45 minutes of arriving at the pool all 15 ROVs (the students worked in pairs) were running. The smiles on the faces of the students as they leanred to control their ROVs and experienced the satisfaction of seeing their own creation operate successfully.
ROV Harbor Testing: Five of the ROVs were equipped with video cameras and operated in Boston Harbor from the Charlestown Navy Yard. As with the pool tests this activity was highly regarded by the students. Exclamations of "ooh! A crab" raised everyone's excitement. Even the unfortunate entaglement of one vehicle provided fascination to the students. The vehicle was recovered (with some slight damage) and the builders of the ROV were thrilled about the whole process and gladly accepted the damage in exchange for the excitement of the rescue procedure.
Social Activites: During the course of the program the students enjoyed a Charles River Cruise, a Clambake at the New England Aquarium, an Ice Cream Social with the Freshman Service Program, and lunches on Killian court. During these activities the students had the opportunity to meet upperclassmen, Faculty, and Staff. Everyone enjoyed themselves and many people made friends and contacts that will endure throughout their MIT experience.
Student Life: The students also had the opportunity to experience life in an MIT dorm. They were housed at East Campus and approximately 50% of them chose to stay there during residence orientation. The students also had the chance to see the campus with guided tours provided by their mentors. The exposure to the buildings on Campus, the local area (the students walked to the Galleria Mall for the River Cruise), public transit (they took the T to the Aquarium), and especially to Athena was welcomed by the DOE participants.
Quotes from the students
The DOE participants filled out evaluations of the program. These are some of the strong positive impressions they shared in those evaluations.
"one of the best and most interesting experiences of my life"
"an academic and socially enriching program which helps you to integrate your personal reality with that of MIT's before R/O week forces you to"
"It was invaluable due to the fact that I gained experience in new skills"
"DOE: Depth of Experience" (note DOE was used to refer to Discover Ocean Engineering)
"a very original approach to getting incoming freshman acquainted with the many promises that MIT offers"
"These guys know how to run a frosh pre-orientation program"
"it's a fun way to get introduced to a department that I had never heard of and it's a good way to meet other freshman"
"This program was just great all around"
"DOE is the best opportunity for freshmen to experience first hand ocean engineering, and at the same time get a jump on orientation and rush"
{in response to a question about their upperclass mentors) "I think you guys were great. It somewhat gives us more, I don't know . . . confidence I guess in the fact that upperclassmen are okay guys"
"the best intro to MIT I could imagine"
