SEA Expedition Pacific: Marine Robotics

High School and Pre-College Program

SEA Expedition Pacific: Marine Robotics

High School and Pre-College Program

A two-week STEM program designed for rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates interested in learning more about underwater robotics. This program will begin in Pasadena, California for an introductory shore component at JPL’s campus then join SEA’s SSV Robert C. Seamans in Fiji.

Working alongside experts from SEA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), students will deepen their understanding of underwater robotics, the role ocean engineering plays in marine exploration and conservation, and gain hands-on experience deploying remote operated vehicles (ROVs). Students will work with JPL engineer, Andy Klesh, and JPL educator Brandon Rodriguez as well as Molly Curran, a mechanical engineer specializing in ROV design and operation from WHOI’s Deep Submergence Laboratory.

Jet Propulasion Laboratory (JPL) is NASA’s leading research and development lab for robotic space exploration. Notable JPL missions include the “Perseverance” rover that explored the surface of Mars in 2020 as well as the Europa Clipper mission, launched this fall, which is investigating the presence of life underneath the icy oceans of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Scientists, engineers, and technicians at JPL are dedicated to exploring extraterrestrial life, understanding our home planet and the species on it, as well as developing new technologies and machines that will advance our understanding of our place in the universe.

While people at JPL are designing robots that can traverse the unknown environments of outer space, those at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), in Woods Hole, MA, are dedicated to exploring the depths of our oceans on Earth. WHOI’s expertise in ROVs positions it at the forefront of marine science, enhancing our understanding of topics such as climate change, ocean acidification, and marine geology.

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Summer 2025

Sessions

Aug 11 - Aug 25

Nadi, Fiji to Nadi Fiji

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Shore Component: California

Beginning in Pasadena, California, students will spend three full days on JPL’s campus engaged in a blend of coursework, hands-on learning, and guest lectures. With exclusive access to JPL facilities, students will learn about past and future NASA missions and interface with leading experts to learn about career paths in oceanography, robotics, and aerospace engineering. Students will also explore the electrical and mechanical systems of a subsea ROV and contribute to the design and construction of sensors and payloads that collect bathymetric and temperature data.

Program faculty, staff, and students will depart from California together to join the SSV Robert C. Seamans in Nadi, Fiji.

Sea Component: Fiji

Taking the knowledge and skills gained during their time in California, students will join the SSV Robert C. Seamans in Nadi, Fiji and set sail through the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. Students will deploy an ROV off the Seamans to explore the underwater environment, using mapping and bathymetry techniques to navigate and analyze the seafloor. Students will also practice basic oceanographic sampling techniques such as a carousel (CTD) deployment and plankton surveys/trawls.

Working within their assigned watch groups, students will participate in all operations of a modern sailing research vessel. The captain and USCG licensed mates use instruction in navigation, sail handling and watch leadership to explore communication, thoughtful participation, and a planned approach to tasks.

Students return home with a broader sense of the ocean’s importance to our planet and the critical role that robotics plays in preserving and exploring these fragile marine ecosystems.