KelpTech Night School
KelpTech Night School is a free educational program combining online learning with opportunities for practical, in-person applications. The program focuses on teaching essential skills in mechatronics, an interdisciplinary field that merges engineering, electronics, and mechanical systems to design automated systems.
Students will gain a foundational understanding of Python, a general-purpose computer programming language widely used in developing tech-driven solutions. Classes meet twice a week on a schedule that fits participants’ school, work, and family obligations.
Students will engage in hands-on lessons in sensor technology and AI and machine learning to create devices like salinity sensors for optimizing the health of agricultural ecosystems. These sensors enable real-time monitoring of water conditions, helping kelp farmers automate the entire growing process from seed nurseries to yield tracking. This approach reduces labor, saves time, and enhances the quality and sustainability of kelp farming.
Our Dream Applicants
Indigenous youth with a flair for STEM subjects who are fired up about championing Indigenous food sovereignty and creating a more hopeful, more sustainable future for their communities and the planet! This program is offered at no cost and can be attended remotely. If you’re interested in getting updates about 2025-2026 cohorts, please contact Yossa@oceancdr.tech.
Why Kelp?
Kelp farms act as natural carbon sinks, pulling CO₂ from the atmosphere as the kelp grows. Scaling kelp farming through automation and AI could help remove massive amounts of carbon from the air, contributing to global efforts to cool the planet. KelpTech Night School students will play a direct role in creating technology that supports large-scale kelp growth and, ultimately, global carbon sequestration.
A Gateway to Opportunities
The KelpTech Night School program focuses on kelp farming but equips students with valuable skills like coding, data analysis, and system automation. These skills are in demand in industries such as AI, robotics, and software development, offering well-paid remote job opportunities. This allows students to stay in their communities while exploring various career options, whether in agriculture or other fields.
Making a Lasting Impact
Kelp farming is vital to the cultural and economic heritage of Pacific Northwest native people and serves as a solution to climate change. KelpTech Night School equips students with skills to support a regenerative economy, combining traditional knowledge with modern technology. This empowers them to make kelp farming a significant tool for carbon drawdown, helping cool the planet and ensuring a sustainable future.