During the summer of 2023, TBMS (Thunderbay Marine Sanctuary) and GLORAL presented Underwater Research Robotics (UR2) with an environmental challenge: water acidification. They tasked UR2 with engineering a subsurface vehicle to collect water samples and monitor pH levels. During this process, they discovered a significant gap in research and awareness, particularly in freshwater systems.
In response, UR2 launched the Water Acidification Research Project (WARP) and invited MATE ROV teams worldwide to join them in this mission. Teams participating in WARP will collect surface and subsurface water samples and contribute valuable data while engineering a subsurface vehicle using the FLOAT Framework.
UR2 asks teams to collect a surface water sample and track its pH at their test sites. The findings are then uploaded to a shared platform, ArcGIS, where they contribute to a global database with the other MATE teams, advancing research and awareness of water acidification.
Participation in WARP also offers a unique opportunity for MATE ROV teams that advance to the MATE 2025 World Championship. Teams involved in WARP can earn corporate responsibility points. By contributing to this global project, teams can create a strong corporate responsibility sheet for the competition and display their dedication to tackling real-world environmental challenges.
By joining WARP, your company will help innovate marine technology, expand critical research, and make a meaningful impact on our planet. Be part of the solution-join WARP today!
With any questions or for registration, contact aps-ur2@alpenaschools.com.