The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands participates in the Science & Innovation Mini Fairs of the Government of the Canary Islands with an educational marine robotics remote operation activity inspired by the Marine Robotics Educational initiative (EDUROVs).
The Mini Fairs of Science and Innovation have been conceived as a point of dissemination and demonstration of the work developed by universities, research centers, and public and private entities linked to R+D+i operating in the Canary Islands.
So far, a hundred students of the IES Lomo de la Herradura (first and second year of Vocational Training) have participated in the Underwater Marine Robotics Mini Fairs, the first year of Secondary Education of the San Juan Bosco School, and the fourth year of Secondary Education of the CEO Luján Pérez, of Gran Canaria. Moreover, the IES Jandía of Fuerteventura and the IES José María Pérez Pulido of La Palma have also participed.
The IES José María Pérez Pulido, which participates for the second consecutive year in the Mini Fairs with all the groups of the first year of Secondary School, celebrated by videoconference this year, continues its commitment to the development of STEAM skills through interdisciplinary and innovative educational proposals, seeking to bring science closer to students in an enjoyable way in order to awaken their interest and motivation.
EDUROVs proposes the construction of programmable marine robots in several areas for educational purposes, from low cost tools, with free hardware and software, with the aim of stimulating young people’s vocations towards technical disciplines in order to awaken motivation and interest in science and technology and in the knowledge of the ocean. It is funded by “La Caixa” Foundation through CaixaBank’s Social Action, by the Government Area for Economic Development, Energy Sovereignty, Climate and Knowledge of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and PLOCAN.
The EDUROVs educational initiative has been developed since its inception in a participatory and face-to-face way with a main act of prototype testing with the participation of students from different educational centers of the Canary Islands, but it has had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving into a remote operation of robots designed by the students and the presentation of the work by videoconference.
The Science Mini Fairs are being celebrated since the beginning of November in all the islands. Workshops, talks and activities aimed at the educational community and the general public have been developed in order to transmit scientific knowledge to students of fifth and sixth year of Primary School, Secondary School, High School and Vocational Training; specialized public and other groups.
Sessions with schools start with information about PLOCAN and its role in the demonstration of marine renewable energies, continues with underwater robotics and its practical applications with underwater gliders (gliders) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and ends with a ROV teleoperation pilot experience. Teleoperation allows children with different capacities to participate in EDUROVs, even during hospital admission.
