High school students will be at the Kern Raceway Wednesday, April 5, in Bakersfield, for a competition showcasing science and technology skills related to offshore exploration and development.
The competition, sponsored by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Ocean Energy Safety Institute, will feature students from the Taft Oil Technology Academy piloting remote-controlled cars circling the raceway, powered by energy they harness using a piezoelectric technology developed by NASA.
This is the first time for Taft College to host the event, which began as a pilot project at the University of Houston in 2016. This year BSEE has expanded the competition to Louisiana State University and Taft College.
Piezoelectric materials generate an electric charge in response to mechanical stress, and the students will use the concept to harness energy generated by underwater sound waves to power a remote-controlled car, navigating a course on the raceway to achieve the greatest number of laps in a ten-minute period.
The competition is part of BSEE’s efforts to promote science, technology, engineering and math education and engage the future technical workforce. The Ocean Energy Safety Institute was formed by BSEE in 2013 and includes UH, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin.
WHAT: Offshore Science and Technology Challenge for high school students, using skills related to offshore exploration and development. Competition ends with students steering remote controlled cars powered by energy generated by underwater sound waves.
WHO: 120 high school students on 15 teams from Taft Oil Technology Academy.
WHEN: April 5, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Andy Pelayo, Safety Director for NASA, will provide the keynote address at 12:30 p.m.
Best times for media: 9:45-11:30 a.m., as students work on the project. 1:30-3 p.m., race competition on the Kern Raceway
WHERE: Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Taft College/West Kern Community College District, Sheri Horn-Bunk 661-763-7936 or shorn-bunk@taftcollege.edu
BSEE, Guy Hayes, O (907) 334-5333, M (907) 301-2473 Guy.Hayes@bsee.gov
-- BSEE --