A group of high school students took a deeper look at the mechanics of underwater gliders during a visit to RAEON (Real-Time Aquatic Ecosystem Observation Network) earlier this month, gaining hands-on experience with the high-tech devices used to monitor the Great Lakes ecosystems.

About 21 students from Assumption College Catholic High School’s Technological Design (Robotics) class, grades 10 to 12, visited RAEON to learn about what they do, how the autonomous gliders work, and the mechanics behind them.

“We opened one up so you could see inside and understand how the mechanics work,” said research and operations director Katelynn Johnson. “We put another glider in the tank with the computer screen up and let a few of the students type commands. Lydia (Paulic), who runs the gliders, walked them through the mechanics step by step, which was very interesting to them.”

RAEON, part of Global Water Futures Observatories (GWFO), and based out of the University of Windsor supports Canadian researchers with advanced tools and data management to study, monitor, and forecast freshwater ecosystem conditions. This work helps identify the causes of ecosystem changes, addresses current and future threats, and provides science-based insights to inform policy decisions.

During their visit, students attended a presentation about RAEON's work, explored additional research equipment, toured the lab, and took part in a demonstration.

Students from Assumption College Catholic High School visit RAEON at the University of Windsor

Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board teacher Dave Bose, who had previously connected with Johnson for guest lectures in his classes, said the students enjoyed the field trip and getting hands-on experience in the lab.

“I wasn't expecting to be able to put the AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) in the tank, and I really didn't expect that the students would be allowed to handle some of the equipment,” Bose said.

“They learned how RAEON is working to help southern shore towns get early warnings when algae blooms are on the way, so they can switch to reserve water storage while the bloom is there. I thought that was really cool. We also found out that the AUV uses its buoyancy system to move in the right direction without relying on its propeller—super efficient!”

With a keen interest in robotics, the students learned about the many ways robots intersect with fields like science, engineering, and other disciplines, sparking ideas about the possibilities in robotics.

“They really enjoyed seeing the glider operate in the water. Being able to interact with such a high-tech, expensive piece of equipment is exciting for them. The fact that maybe it opened their eyes to what types of careers are out there—Lydia mentioned how she was taking something medical-related at first but changed paths somewhere along the way. I think it’s good for them to hear that there is flexibility and that if they don't know what they want to do right now, that's okay,” Bose said.

Johnson said the visit was a treat for RAEON staff as well. The students were very interested and engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and one student even requested a pen and paper to take notes.

“I hope the students came away with an understanding of how this equipment is used in real-world applications. It’s great that they’re learning about building and understanding mechanics in their robotics class, but seeing how this technology is used to measure water quality—and how that impacts our drinking water, for example—adds a whole new layer of meaning to what they’re doing,” she said.