In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the Where’s Waldo robotics team from Trafalgar Castle School, an all-girls K-12 institution in Whitby, Ontario, is gearing up for the prestigious MATE ROV Competition World Championship. This event, taking place from Thursday in St. John’s, represents a historic milestone as Trafalgar becomes the first secondary school from Ontario to compete in the Ranger division, which includes upper elementary and high school students worldwide.
Preparing for the Challenge
Within the bustling Design Tech Lab, the atmosphere is charged with excitement and intensity. Comprising 13 talented students from Grades 9 to 12, the team collaborates closely to finalise their underwater robot, aptly named “Where’s Waldo 17.” The members engage in a flurry of activity—soldering components, testing controls, and preparing crucial equipment for the competition.
“Are we out of white zip ties?” one student inquires, highlighting the team’s attention to detail. Another member, engrossed in her task, seeks connectors for their cameras. Amidst this technical fervour, a seemingly quirky request emerges: “Can you bring the iceberg?” This refers to a specially designed piece of plastic tubing, which the robot must locate and photograph, crucial for creating detailed computer models.
Breaking Barriers in STEM
For the team, qualifying for this global competition is more than just a technical achievement; it is a significant step towards redefining the narrative surrounding women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). “It changes the narrative of engineering when an all-girls team places,” remarks Taara Gill, a Grade 12 student and the team’s leader.
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) ROV competition aims to inspire students by providing hands-on experience in the maritime sector. As Jill Zande, executive director of MATE, explains, “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’s championship will host nearly 90 teams from 16 countries, with only a handful being all-female, underscoring the importance of their participation.
A Unique Learning Experience
The competition promises to be multifaceted, with participants operating their remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in a state-of-the-art flume tank designed to replicate oceanic conditions. Teams will face various challenges, from retrieving objects to measuring simulated icebergs, and will be expected to present as startup companies, complete with technical documentation and marketing pitches to industry experts.
Natalie Calnek, a 16-year-old team member, believes that their participation will inspire other girls to explore engineering. “It provides an opportunity for girls to be interested in engineering,” she asserts. “People who may not have considered it before joining a team like this can see what it could actually be like.”
Empowering Future Generations
Penny Senior, the technology and robotics teacher guiding the team, emphasises the unique perspectives that women bring to engineering. “Women think about the ‘why’ more,” she observes. “When the girls are designing, they often ask, ‘But why would we do this? What is it going to do?’” This critical thinking approach not only fosters creativity but also empowers students, equipping them with the confidence to excel in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Encouraging young girls to engage with STEM is crucial, according to Ms. Senior. “If I can get them excited young, they build that confidence and energy that carries through their high school years,” she explains. For Taara Gill, who plans to study systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo, the competition is set to be a whirlwind three days of inspiration and learning. “I’m just so thrilled to be surrounded by brilliant minds from around the world,” she says, ready to embrace the challenges ahead.
Why it Matters
The remarkable journey of the Where’s Waldo team transcends mere robotics; it embodies a movement towards gender equity in fields traditionally dominated by men. Their participation in the MATE ROV Competition not only showcases their technical prowess but also serves as an empowering beacon for young women everywhere, illustrating that they too can thrive in STEM disciplines. By breaking down barriers and reshaping perceptions, this all-girls team is not just competing for recognition—they are paving the way for future generations, inspiring a new wave of female innovators and leaders in science and technology.
