By Javier Chagoya

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Richard Reardon introduces students from the Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science (MAOS) to the Pioneer P3-DX Mobile Robot, March 6. The MAOS students were exposed to a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related concepts with hands-on activities and demonstrations by NPS students, faculty and staff.

"My favorite demonstration was the one on sound and physics at the beginning of the field trip," said one of the MAOS students. "It was just crazy seeing all of the things they could do."

Therese Mayone was the coordinator for the MAOS group. She was impressed by the passion with which NPS students and faculty shared the science behind their research.

"The level of professionalism among the NPS staff was amazing … It was obvious that each of the NPS presenters had a very strong command of their subject," said Mayone. "They related the material to the students in a way that was not only understandable, but engaging."

Mayone, who calls guiding young minds toward science her "highest calling," noted that her students left the presentations with a desire to learn more about how physics is used and applied in the real world.