Driving Science at Sea

Let me tell you about our program.

We are Drive Around the World, producers of "Relevant Adventures." 

We are working to fund a project that invites the next generation explore to our oceans.

Our teams have driven around the world...twice!  Once LATITUDE in vintage Land Rovers and again following lines of LONGITUDE in new(ish) Land Rovers.  We also built a two Electric Hummers for our ZERO SOUTH expedition that scientists in Antarctica will use to get some answers about the most unexplored part of our world. 

Now we're looking for your help to begin delivering our latest (and quite possibly greatest) program called... 

Driving Science at Sea! 

It's a grassroots, ocean-education program that will bring student groups out to sea aboard our 100-ton, 90-foot Coast Guard inspected ship that's rated for 108 passengers.

From or hailing port in Marina del Rey California, we can have up to 60 students on board, or about two average-sized classrooms, plus all the necessary crew, educators and experts to stay safe and support them.  Science is more than just in the classroom so we created a program that places the next generation smack-dab in the center of a world so few get to see and experience.

What the program will do
Schools will receive eight underwater ROV kits* that students get to build as part of a multidisciplinary STEM adventure team.  Once built, they'll come aboard and go out to sea to deploy a science instrument (they built!) and see what the cameras see.  The program delivers three ocean excursions per week for 30 weeks out of the year in a schedule that aligns with the school year and the best seasons for favorable ocean conditions.  We're all about the numbers and achieving measurable results, so let's break it down:

90 excursions  X  60 students per trip   =  experiential learning for 5,400 students in Year 1!  And we'll reach 15,000 by Year 3! 

It's the Ultimate field trip, but don’t just take our word for it, here are some words from a long-time member of our Enthusiast Society, Steve Wozniak  (who co-founded Apple Computer bytheway :-)

"Collaborative programs like Driving Science at Sea require young people to team up and build something and then use it in the real world.  This one does all that and also allows them to view another world…our oceans!  They can actually drive around and control their creations—where they go and what they look at and explore.  They can even conduct citizen science which is something we’ll be seeing a lot more of to include in our explorations.  This is a wonderful STEM program that gives something special to just about every type of learner and is free to any school that participates--and it even pays for bus fare!  I have been involved with Drive Around the World since it was founded in 2002 and endorse this program wholeheartedly."  -Steve Wozniak

How $50,000 will help
The cost to deliver the program is $65 per student, and we'll get that down to just $38 per student by Year 2 (because the first year is more expensive getting the ship ready).  This campaign helps us complete development and host our annual fundraiser that will secure the program budget for Year 1, so kindly Donate Now  (<---it's a link, go ahead, click it). We believe we must lift up those who are working to address the problems we face, so please enable us to do something amazing that truly makes a difference.

Our Mission
      To inspire a sense of adventure and the tradition of exploration.  We encourage
      people to explore our world and seek creative solutions to the humanitarian and
      environmental problems we face.

Thank you in advance for supporting Driving Science at Sea.

For more information about our organization or past projects be sure to check out our website. www.drivearoundtheworld.org

ABOUT DRIVE AROUND THE WORLD
Established in 2002, Drive Around the World (DATW) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit producer of education programs, films and televised series that leverage dramatic, worldwide adventure to raise awareness about key social issues and charitable causes.  The organization was founded on the principles of science, exploration and an audacious passion to produce real-life and relevant learning experiences.  We are supported by civic and foundation grants along with a courageous group of sponsors and individual donors.


Our principles are...   Be respectful**  -  be knowledgeable  -  Be Curious


*ROVs stands for Remote Operated Vehicle

**This is my Mom's favorite principle.