Mast-ers of science

They might be miniature sailboats, but their voyages can stretch for thousands of miles — with students following every mile from shore.

Dr. Kama Almasi will share the story of the Oregon Coast STEM Hub’s miniboat program during the MidCoast Watersheds Council’s October Community Meeting at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center in Newport on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The program gives students a chance to become engineers, oceanographers and data scientists as they build miniature sailboats, install sensors, tackle design challenges and prepare the vessels for journeys across the Pacific Ocean.

Once launched, the boats become floating classrooms. Students can follow their progress and examine real-world data transmitted during their travels while learning what happens when ocean currents, weather and engineering meet outside the classroom.

Five miniboats are currently on adventures, with some still crossing the Pacific and others having completed voyages to distant shores. Along the way, the boats have also created unexpected connections between students and communities in different countries.

Almasi will share stories from those voyages, explore the international friendships they have sparked and explain how the program uses curiosity and adventure to introduce students to science, technology, engineering and math.

Almasi is director of the Oregon Coast STEM Hub, which works with K-12 teachers and students along the Oregon Coast. Before joining the organization, he was a longtime science and math teacher with the Lincoln County School District and worked for the Oregon Department of Education.

Thursday’s presentation begins at 6:30 pm at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center, located at 333 SE Bay Blvd. in Newport. For more information, go to midcoastwatersheds.org or call 541-265-9195.