Oregon Sea Grant creates curriculum, provides educator professional development, and leads student events.
STEM Competitions
MATE Oregon Regional ROV Competition
The MATE Oregon Regional ROV Competition was held May 10, 2025 in Newport, OR. Nineteen teams of Oregon and southern Washington students in grades ranging from upper elementary to high school built underwater robots and used them to complete missions in the pool.
2025 RESULTS
RANGER Class
- 1st Place - The Rays from Warrenton Aquatic Robotics (385 points)
This team will advance to the World Championship in June. - 2nd Place - Valor Maritime International from Valor Christian School International (327 points)
NAVIGATOR Class
- 1st Place - The Aegean Team from Warrenton Aquatic Robotics (210 points)
- 2nd Place - The Manatees from Gorge Makerspace (166 points)
- 3rd Place - The Sea Turtles from Gorge Makerspace (164 points)
SCOUT Class
- 1st Place - The Swordfish from Gorge Makerspace (238 points)
- 2nd Place - The Seasick Maniacs from Gorge Makerspace (208 points)
- 3rd Place - The Sea Otters from Gorge Makerspace (198 points)
Watch the livestream recording provided by the Sexton Corporation, and see photos from the day on the Oregon Sea Grant Flickr page.
Many thanks to Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University, Marine Technology Society, Sexton Corporation, Oregon Coast STEM Hub, Roundhouse Foundation, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and more than 40 volunteers who supported the competition as judges, divers, presenters, and more.
To be alerted about workshops and other events, sign up to receive the Oregon Sea Grant Teacher Newsletter.
Student Competitions
This annual event is the regional competition for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), an academic competition for high school students which engages them in ocean science, prepares them for ocean science-related and other STEM careers, and helps them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards. Teams compete for supremacy through a combination of quiz-style buzzer answers and written responses. The next event will take place on February 7 and 8, 2025 in Corvallis.
In this annual challenge, students in grade 3-12 from Oregon Coast school districts show off devices they build which are powered by water, wind or light. Winners of the Wind and Solar categories are invited to the national KidWind Challenge event. The next event will take place on March 4, 2025 at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.
MATE ROV Oregon Regional Competition
In this annual challenge, students from upper elementary to college age build remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and use them to complete underwater missions. Three classes compete in this Regional: RANGER, NAVIGATOR, and SCOUT. The 2024 Oregon Regional event was held in Newport, Oregon. Watch the recorded livestream of the 2024 competition
The next event will take place in Newport, OR on May 10, 2025.
MATE ROV OREGON REGIONAL COMPETITION
In this annual challenge, students from upper elementary to college age build remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and use them to complete underwater missions. Three classes compete in this Regional: RANGER, NAVIGATOR, and SCOUT. The 2024 Oregon Regional event was held in Newport, Oregon. Watch the recorded livestream of the 2024 competition
The next event will take place in Newport, OR on May 10, 2025.
Oregon Coalition to Combat Marine Debris
The Oregon Coalition to Combat Marine Debris (OCCMD) project builds local partnerships to identify key issues and actively address marine debris prevention in Oregon at the community level, with a focus on coastal communities. Supported by National Sea Grant Marine Debris Community Action Coalition funding, this Oregon Sea Grant project 1) increases student, educator, and public awareness about marine debris sources and impacts, 2) facilitates collaboration among those working to prevent marine debris, and 3) empowers youth and adults to develop and implement marine debris prevention solutions.
Four project components are described below:
OCCMD Activities
Teachers, check out the Marine Debris Interruptions lessons developed by Oregon Sea Grant! In these 5E lessons, students in grades 4-12 focus on one marine debris object commonly found on Oregon beaches, research its original purpose, user, and life cycle, and then propose targeted solutions to prevent this particular item from becoming marine debris. For more information, contact Cait Goodwin.
In spring 2024, another cohort of students from Newport High School will work with community members to identify keys issues around marine debris. Then they the students will design, prototype, present engineering solutions at the HMSC Innovation Lab. For more information, contact Cait Goodwin.
See a short video about the 2023 group:
The Oregon Applied Sustainability Experience is a 10-week internship for post secondary students. The college students are matched with an Oregon business to create sustainability solutions for industry practices. Interns help businesses improve efficiency, save money and reduce waste through projects based on preventing pollution. The interns are PAID, and the program is FREE for first-time businesses.
This summer, three OASE interns will focus on projects related to the prevention of marine debris at their host business sites.
Save the Date
The inaugural Community Repair Fair took place at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport on Saturday, July 20th from 10am - 4pm. Community members brought their broken household items to be fixed, and to learn repair skills. This free event also featured short skill workshops, demos, and displays from community partners who shared strategies for waste prevention.
More Opportunities
Educators, are you interested in:
- Implementing a Marine Debris Interruptions lesson in your classroom or program?
- Making a Tsunami Quest or another type of Quest with youth?
- Playing The Watershed Game with youth or educators?
Contact Cait Goodwin at Oregon Sea Grant for help.