Discover the Difference: Navy commander visits STEM program at St. Theresa School

by Diocese of Des Moines | January 20, 2022

U.S. Navy Commander Quintin James, of the USS Iowa submarine, briefly became a teacher at St. Theresa Catholic School in Des Moines during a visit to Iowa on Jan. 18.

Standing next to a tub of water, he explained that in order to determine if something will float, one needs to figure out the displacement of the water.

“You got to figure out what is the displacement of water that you’re device is in, and then weigh that, and your device has to match exactly that to be neutrally buoyant,” he explained.

James came to see the school’s SeaPerch project, an effort that combines science, technology, engineering and math (also known as STEM). Teacher Ronda McCarthy discovered the SeaPerch program while she was at a teacher training at the U.S. Naval Academy and brought it to St. Theresa School. Other schools adopted the program and she eventually developed a regional competition.

James was in Des Moines at the invitation of the state’s Veteran Affairs office for an event at the capitol intended to help veterans learn of the various services that are available to them, said Bob Kirby, a U.S. Navy veteran who was helping with the visit.

James, who commands the fourth USS Iowa, which is under construction in Groton, Connecticut, shared that his new submarine is the fourth to be named after Iowa. At 377 feet long and 7,900 pounds, it will run with 135 crew members and operate its own power plant. The submarine will serve the United States for the next 30-35 years.

McCarthy was anxious to show the commander what her students could do with the SeaPerch program. Several who competed nationally returned to the elementary school from Dowling Catholic High School to meet the submarine commander and show him how they operate a SeaPerch.

“I’m always excited to share what we’re doing with other people,” McCarthy said.

James encouraged the students to study hard.

“Lots of folks rely on the skills that you’re learning here,” he said.

“I highly encourage you, regardless of what job or profession that you have later in life, whether it be Navy and submarines or something out in industry, pay attention to science, technology, engineering because it could mean the difference between quality of life and your job,” he said.

He explained how his crew uses math and science for sonar and for getting oxygen and while underwater.

The next project McCarthy will be showing her students, Soapy Cilantro, focuses on genetics and testing whether they have the gene that makes cilantro taste more like soap than a food flavor.

“It’s all about whether or not you have the gene that has been passed down to you that makes cilantro taste like cilantro, or cilantro taste like soap,” she said. “We’re going to run it and find out if they have gene. It really is cool.”