Mayim Bialik from the sitcom Big. Bang Theory and Adam Savage and. Jamie Hyneman from the hit Dis- covery Channel series
MTS at the 2nd Annual USA Science and Engineering Festival
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he 2nd USA Science and Engineering Festival was held in Washington, D.C. on April 28-29, 2012. The site — Walter E. Washington Convention Center — was filled with over 3,000 fun, interactive exhibits, more than 100 stage shows and 33 author presentations. Over 150,000 attended the event — all there to celebrate science. The Festival’s mission is to re-invigorate the interest of the nation’s youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by producing and presenting the most compelling, exciting, educational and entertaining science festival in the United States The Festival succeeded with hands-on exhibits, exciting stage shows, large and small demonstrations from the big stage to thousands of exhibit booths, organized school programs, top names in science and technology, and much more.
Above: Pictured is MTS member company Oceaneering’s SpiderBot, the first ROV to enter the hull of the Titanic.
continued on page 15 Left: ‘Ben Franklin’ was facinated by Oceaneering’s SpiderBot and ROVs in general, and stopped by for more details from MTS Manager of Sections Jake Sobin during exhibitor set-up.
Below: Exhibits were spread throughout several halls of the Convention Center, with over 3,000 booths offering technology, hands-on fun and interactive opportunities.
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Enthusing the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers continued from page 14
Representatives from the public and private sectors as well as educational institutions, artists and entertainers offered their own takes on new and exciting innovations in the sciences. New to the event this year were the USA Science & Engineering Festival Book Fair, and a Career Pavilion for high-school students that included a College Fair, a Job Fair and a Meet the Scientist/ Engineer Networking area. Major “Science Celebrities” including Bill Nye the Science Guy, Mayim Bialik from the sitcom Big Bang Theory and Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman from the hit Discovery Channel series MythBusters, Above: Students gather around the MTS booth to learn more about the Society — and opportunity. performed to the delight of all. The Below: Interest and enthusiasm in ROVs starts early. event was open to all ages and free of charge.
Photo credit: Erica Moulton
Science Celebrities in Attendance
Photo credit: Erica Moulton
MTS, Member Companies and Sections in the Hall The Marine Technology Society had a booth in the Sea and Sky Fest area, and was manned by volunteers from MTS and MTS DC Section, Oceaneering, and the MATE Center. NOAA was represented in the Hall, as were several MTS member organizations, including VideoRay. At the booth, Oceaneering’s “SpiderBot” – the first ROV to enter the hull of the Titanic – was on display along with a cold-weather rope supplied by Whitehill Manufacturing Corporation, with assistance from Evan Zimmerman, Chair of the Ropes and Tension Committee. Nearly 600 attendees had the opportunity to watch an ROV flythrough mission in 3-D on the big flat-panel display at the booth with special glasses supplied by Oceaneering. Visitors were also able to fly micro-ROVs themselves in a small pool and examine the ROV-in-aBag kit. On Sunday, three members of the Oregon State University 4-H Club brought their student-built ROV to demonstrate at the booth and talk to visitors about their project and the MATE International ROV Competition. Currents
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