Students participating in an internationally recognised educational programme have created and launched an environmental research miniboat into the Atlantic Ocean.

The 13 pupils of Saltus Grammar School, said by the schoole to be the first in Bermuda taking part in the Educational Passages Miniboat Programme, were guided by Paul Wright, a science teacher, in the “truly unique” interdisciplinary oceanography project.

The task brought together science, technology, engineering, design, communications and real-world research, culminating in the successful launch of the uncrewed research vessel, Coral Tempest on Wednesday.

It was launched by a team from the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, a unit of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.

Scientists and crew aboard R/V Atlantic Explorer were also carrying out scientific work funded by the US National Science Foundation at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series sites, 45 nautical miles to the southeast of the island.

As part of the Saltus oceanography course, students assembled, equipped, tested and prepared the 5ft research vessel designed to sail downwind across the ocean while collecting ocean data and information on weather systems.

Working together, the students took responsibility for each stage of the process, from construction and ballasting to sealing, branding and launch preparation.

The vesselis at sea and will transmit real-time data as students track its Atlantic journey, analyse oceanographic conditions and study weather systems as part of their ongoing coursework.

“The Coral Tempest represents the very best of what learning looks like at Saltus,” said head of school, Julie Rousseau

“Through our adoption of the British Columbia Curriculum, we are committed to interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning that connects knowledge to real-world application.

“This project brought science, technology, engineering, creativity and collaboration together in a powerful way, while marking a proud milestone as the first organisation in Bermuda to participate in this global research initiative.

“Our students are not just studying oceanography, they are engaged in ongoing research, authentic problem-solving and collaboration, and learning how to thrive through an exciting shared challenge and purpose.”

The school said that participation in the global Educational Passages Programme places Saltus at the forefront of experiential marine science education and marks a significant milestone for Bermuda’s educational community.