MIT Sea Grant's new Sea Perch program introduces pre-college students to the wonders of underwater robotics. Part of the Office of Naval Research's initiative, "Recruiting the Next Generation of Naval Architects," this program teaches students how to build an underwater robot (called a Sea Perch), how to build a propulsion system, how to develop a controller, and how to investigate weight and buoyancy. This endeavor is one of many exciting new projects funded by the Office of Naval Research as part of its National Naval Responsibility Initiative. The initiative focuses on bringing academia, government and industry to work together to ensure that the talent needed to design the Navy's next generation of ships and submarines will be there when needed.

The Sea Perch program trains teachers, mentors and potential trainers how to build the remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which are made with PVC pipe. With a marine engineering theme, this project teaches basic skills in ship and submarine design and encourages students to explore naval architecture and marine and ocean engineering concepts independently. The Sea Perch program can easily be turned into a multidisciplinary venture. For instance, by incorporating novels that focus on ocean exploration, focusing on ship and submarine technology throughout history, and studying the math and physics involved in ocean exploration, teachers can develop extensive, in-depth programs for their classes.