Thursday | July 16, 2026
Dive into innovation at the first Blue Technology Education Workshop, hosted by NOAA Ocean Exploration at the 2026 NMEA Annual Conference in Cambridge, MD. This full-day professional development opportunity is designed for early-career educators eager to bring the excitement of ocean engineering and exploration technology into their educational settings. Registration is required and limited to 30 educators. The workshop fee is $50 per participant. Registration for the workshop can be completed as an add on to your conference registration.
Join us to gain the tools, confidence, and inspiration to empower your students as the next generation of ocean explorers and innovators!
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026 (“Field Trip Day” of NMEA 2026)
Time: ~ 8:30am - 5:00pm (exact hours will be confirmed closer to the workshop)
Location: Hyatt Regency Resort | Cambridge, MD (NMEA 2026 Conference Venue)
Participants will:
Engage directly with blue technology education organizations including RoboNation, Blue Robotics, Educational Passages, Oceanography for Everyone, MATE ROV Competition, and NOAA’s Adopt-a-Drifter Program
Explore student-friendly resources & programs
Network with peers & veteran blue technology educators
Develop action plans to implement blue technology in your educational setting
[NEW] Participant Stipends
Upon completion of the workshop, all participants will receive a certificate of completion and a $250 stipend** to support implementation of blue technology during next school year.
*Stipends will be provided upon completion of the workshop. Participants must be a US citizen working in a US educational setting to receive the stipend.
**Stipend funds are to support implementation of blue technology in your educational setting and may include, but are not limited to additional training, blue technology kits, tools/supplies to support building and design, etc.
Register for this workshop by clicking on “Select Ticket Options” during conference registration
Workshop Agenda
8:30 - 9:50am | Blue Tech Education Introductions:
Meet the 6 blue tech organizations and the educational programs or products they offer.
10am - 12:30pm | Hands-on Blue Tech Demos:
Rotate through stations hosted by the six blue tech organizations to test out their tools, explore educational programs, and ask tech leads your burning questions.
12:30 - 1:00pm | Lunch
1:00 - 1:40pm | Tech Skills Practice:
Introduction to soldering and circuit boards
1:40 - 4:00 | Networking and Integration Planning:
Testimonials from veteran blue tech educators
Funding opportunities share-a-thon
Peer networking
Integration Plan Development
4:00 - 4:30 | Wrap-up
