We gathered together at the College of Business for our regularly scheduled meeting to consider centrifugal force, momentum and velocity as a precursor to forming teams of boys to compete in the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) international student underwater robotics (remotely operated vehicle or ROV) competition. The competition is an international event and includes a network of 31 (and growing!) regional contests that take place across the United States and in Canada, Hong Kong, Scotland, Egypt, Russia, Turkey, and Bermuda. Student teams from upper elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, home schools, community colleges, universities, and community organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club and 4-H, participate.

Audrey Thompson of The Engineer Factory provided an overview of the competition and challenged the boys to build their own rollercoaster. The results were nothing short of amazing as teams of the boys incorporated their learning about centrifugal force, momentum and velocity to each produce working prototypes in half an hour. BOSS!