In a remarkable display of innovation and determination, the Where’s Waldo robotics team from Trafalgar Castle School, an all-girls private institution in Whitby, Ontario, is gearing up for the MATE ROV Competition World Championship. This prestigious event, which commences in St. John’s, Newfoundland, marks a significant milestone for the team as they become the first secondary school representatives from Ontario to compete in the challenging Ranger division. With their custom-built underwater robot, Waldo XVII, the team aims not only to excel in the competition but also to inspire a new generation of young women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Building the Future: A Day in the Design Tech Lab
Inside the Design Tech Lab, a hive of activity buzzes as the senior robotics team readies themselves for the imminent challenge. Spanning Grades 9 to 12, the team of 13 young women is a testament to the evolving landscape of STEM education. Amidst the hum of soldering irons and the sound of tools clinking, questions fly around the room: “Do we have enough white zip ties?” and “Can you bring the iceberg?”
The iceberg is an integral part of their mission—a rectangular piece of white plastic tubing that the robot must locate and photograph for data collection. Taara Gill, a Grade 12 student and team CEO, emphasises the intricacies involved in engineering a functioning robot. “Getting a robot to work is actually much easier said than done,” she comments, highlighting the challenges they face.
This championship is not merely a competition; it is a platform that showcases the capabilities of women in a field often dominated by men. “It changes the narrative of engineering when an all-girls team places,” Gill notes, underlining the importance of representation.
The Competition: A Global Stage for Innovation
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) ROV competition, initiated in collaboration with the Marine Technology Society, aims to engage students and ignite their passion for STEM. Jill Zande, the executive director of MATE, articulates the programme’s mission: “It really is about engaging students, getting them excited about STEM, helping them to gain exposure to career opportunities in our ocean world.”
This year, nearly 90 teams from 16 countries will converge for the three-day championship, a significant gathering that includes only a handful of all-female teams. Contestants will navigate their remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) through complex challenges in the world’s largest flume tank, designed to simulate ocean currents. The competition will test their ROVs in various tasks, including retrieving objects, measuring “icebergs,” and presenting their findings to industry experts as if they were startup companies.
Empowering Young Women in STEM
Beyond the competition, the experience serves as a catalyst for inspiring other girls to explore the engineering field. Natalie Calnek, a 16-year-old team member, shares her perspective: “Being at the world championship might encourage other girls to join a robotics team. It provides an opportunity for girls to be interested in engineering.”
The team’s technology and robotics teacher, Penny Senior, echoes this sentiment, asserting that women bring unique perspectives to engineering challenges. She stresses the importance of early engagement in STEM education, stating, “If I can get them excited young, then they build that confidence, and they build that interest and energy.”
For students like Gill, who plans to pursue systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo, the upcoming days promise to be exhilarating. “It’s three days of total, fast-paced, everything’s moving,” she explains, acknowledging the blend of excitement and stress that comes with competing at such a level.
Why it Matters
The participation of the Where’s Waldo team in the MATE ROV Competition World Championship is not only a personal achievement but a transformative moment for girls in STEM. Their journey exemplifies the potential for women to thrive in traditionally male-dominated fields, reshaping perceptions and encouraging future generations to engage with engineering and technology. As these young women step onto the global stage, they carry with them the hopes of many, proving that passion, innovation, and collaboration can break down barriers and pave the way for a more inclusive future in science and technology.
