Education

NOAA Ocean Exploration Hosts Inaugural Blue Technology Education Workshop

August 21, 2026

On July 16, 2026, NOAA Ocean Exploration hosted its inaugural Blue Technology Education Workshop during the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) Annual Conference in Cambridge, MD. Designed as a comprehensive professional development experience, the full-day event empowered educators to inspire and build the future blue economy workforce. Through interactive engagement with education-focused blue technologies—such as sensor systems, underwater robots, and ocean drifters—educators developed the tools, confidence, and professional networks needed to integrate these technologies into their educational settings. Bringing these technologies into educational activities will help students cultivate critical STEM skills and investigate future ocean careers.

Hands-On Tech and Real-World Connections

The morning sessions focused on blue technology exposure, featuring presentations and hands-on demonstrations from Educational Passages, Oceanography for Everyone, NOAA’s Adopt-a-Drifter Program, RoboNation, MATE ROV Competition, and Blue Robotics. Each organization first shared the products, programs, and/or engineering competitions they offer for students and educators. These presentations covered topics like target age range, cost, and potential applications of the technology, helping participants consider how they might bring these tools back to their own educational settings. Participants were then divided into smaller groups and headed outside, where they rotated through hands-on demonstration stations. Working in these smaller settings allowed educators to directly handle and try out all the showcased technologies, while also having the opportunity to ask questions and receive personalized guidance directly from the technology experts.

Three people stand behind a table on a fenced deck. A body of water is behind the deck.

Miniboat Demonstration

Educational Passages, Oceanography for Everyone, and Maker Buoy co-presented, introducing educators to the miniboat design and several low-cost, customizable sensor pack options that can be built and deployed with students. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 2.14 MB).

A seated woman presents a project on a large screen.

Adopt-A-Drifter Data Portal

NOAA’s Adopt-A-Drifter Program demonstrated their new data portal, developed and presented by NOAA Lapenta intern, Virginia St. Clair. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 2.62 MB).

Two people pilot remote controlled vehicles in a blue inflatable pool.

SeaPerch ROV Models in Water

RoboNation brought several mini SeaPerch ROV models for educators to practice piloting and learn more about the low-cost, small ROV kit options to bring underwater robots into the classroom or get students involved in their annual SeaPerch competition. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 3.76 MB).

Three people stand outside a blue inflatable pool. One person pilots a remote controlled vehicle in the pool made mostly of PVC pipe.

Angelfish ROV Kits In Water

MATE ROV Competition brought several configurations of their Angelfish “ROV-in-a-bag” kits and challenges for educators, demonstrating the customization potential for educators to have students design and build unique ROVs that address locally relevant challenges and/or their annual international MATE ROV Competition challenge course. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 2.86 MB).

Five people congregate at a table on a fenced deck outside. A body of water is behind the deck.

BlueBoat Data Collection

Blue Robotics brought their BlueBoat, a small Uncrewed Surface Vessel equipped with a single beam sonar system for educators to practice driving and mapping the bathymetry of the riverbed right off the dock. Here educators look at the bathymetric data they just collected using freely available online software and discuss the potential applications in their educational communities. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 2.63 MB).

Strategic Support and Educator Investment

The afternoon focused on overcoming common barriers to implementing blue technology, such as limited technical expertise, budget constraints, and a lack of professional networks. To build technical confidence, attendees participated in a hands-on soldering session led by the MATE ROV Competition using the SeaMATE PufferFish Practice Circuit Boards. A funding “share-a-thon” followed, highlighting diverse STEM and ocean education opportunities and announcing new Blue Technology Education Grants for the 2027–2028 school year. Participants also gained practical insights from veteran educators—including one joining live from an E/V Nautilus expedition in the Mariana Islands—who shared their successful classroom integration experiences and strategies. The day concluded with a discussion of strategies to support educators in developing future implementation plans.

Six people gather around a table indoors. Five people are practicing with soldering equipment while one person instructs them.

MATE Network Development Director, Jody Patterson, led a tutorial on soldering using the SeaMATE Pufferfish Practice Board kits, helping participants get comfortable with the soldering equipment and technique and addressing a commonly cited barrier to implementing blue technology in classrooms. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 2.82 MB).

Four people sit at a table indoors, listening to a presentation. One person stands next to a large screen. Two people are visible on the screen. They wear headsets and sit in front of a bank of computers.

Blue Technology Education Workshop Nautilus Call 2026
Participants connected to Ocean Exploration Trust’s E/V Nautilus, to hear from Science Communication Fellows onboard that shared about the current expedition and technology on board and how they plan to bring this experience back to their classrooms. Ashley Cosme (left), also a NOAA Teacher at Sea and Project ROVe alumna, shared her experiences bringing blue technology into her classroom back in Indiana! Yeji Lee (right) is an educator in Saipan. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 2.10 MB).

Following the workshop, all 23 participants received a $250 stipend to support additional training or the purchase of supplies or equipment. Additionally, two educators from Washington and New Hampshire each received a $2,000 travel scholarship to offset the costs associated with attending the conference and workshop. These investments equipped participants with the necessary resources and support to successfully introduce blue technology into their educational settings.

The contributions of educators and technology groups made this inaugural workshop a success. In total, the event gathered 23 diverse participants from 17 states and 3 countries, drawing from middle and high schools, homeschool STEM networks, non-profit organizations, universities, and both state and federal agencies. Plans are already underway to offer another Blue Technology Education Workshop during next year’s 2027 NMEA Annual Conference in Hawaiʻi.

26 people pose for the camera in front of a large screen. On the screen are two women wearing headsets who are also posing for the camera.

Blue Technology Education Workshop presenters and participants pictured in front of Science Communication Fellows Ashley Cosme and Yeji Lee aboard E/V Nautilus. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 3.19 MB).