Aspiring engineers will get the chance to participate at the MATE ROV Challenge, an international underwater machinery and robotics design competition held in St. John's, Canada between June 25 and 27.
Subsea UK, which represents the £9 billion UK subsea industry, has entered into a long-term partnership with Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University to sustain and extend the event in Scotland. Subsea company ROVOP has also stepped in to support the initiative, which along with the financial contribution of Subsea UK and another new sponsor, brings a much-needed £16,000 to the program.
“MATE ROV has captured the imagination of school pupils and subsea business alike since it was first run in Scotland in 2008," said Subsea UK chief executive, Neil Gordon. "Representing the entire subsea supply chain, Subsea UK is ideally placed to communicate and promote the initiative to industry, ensuring more meaningful engagement.”
To date, MATE ROV has worked with 460 pupils from 29 schools in Scotland with an annual commitment from BP and ad-hoc support from other oil and gas companies.
The winners of the Scottish competition, which is held on April 2 at RGU, will go forward to the international final to face off against qualifiers from 24 other regions around the world.
