Successful IEEE Student Outreach

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) has supported a successful student outreach program conducted at the BlueZone Group Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) facility in Newcastle, NSW.

The IEEE NSW Joint Chapter Communications, Signal Processing and Ocean Engineering, EA and IICA arranged a site visit to BlueZone Group’s facility at Newcastle, NSW, where support for Navy UUV is provided.

The educational outreach program was available to Year 10 students to encourage them to choose careers in STEM. In this week-long program students build their own underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) under the supervision of experienced BlueZone underwater vehicle technicians. During the site visit IEEE members spoke with students about their ROV designs and about what they had learned on the program. They then observed as each student tested their ROV in the on-site test tank and witnessed the successful operation of underwater vehicle constructed “from scratch”. All of the students extended their vehicle design from the basic instructions provided at the start of the program to include new features like LED lighting.

BlueZone Group, CTO, Darren Burrowes, said that the educational outreach program was a two-way learning experience as the students learned about design and build of an ROV and the staff at BlueZone enjoyed the enthusiasm and energy of the students in the workplace.  “BlueZone is an established provider of underwater technology to Defence, Offshore Oil & Gas and Oceanographic Science” said Darren, “There are many interesting careers in underwater technology design, upgrade and support and we happy to encourage Year 10 students to consider selecting STEM subjects that lead them into electrical and electronic engineering careers in the underwater world”.

BlueZone Group Technician, Hamish McInnes assists student Levi Neave with construction of his Remotely Operated Vehicle

 

Students William Sim (Merewether High School), Levi Neave and Liam Johnston (Hunter Trade College) with their completed Remotely Operated Vehicles

 

IEEE Members and guests with students after inspecting their ROVs and before the tank test